Don't delay poison gas cleanup

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Colorado
DENVER POST
Don't delay poison gas cleanup
Article Published: Sunday, February 15, 2004

A senseless federal budget cut could leave tons of chemical weapons
sitting in southern Colorado.

For decades, the U.S. Army has stored a staggering amount of mustard gas
at its depot 15 miles east of Pueblo: Some 2,600 tons of the deadly
blistering agent are packed into 780,078 shells and stored in 102
buildings.

The ready-made weapons of mass destruction are tempting targets for
terrorists and must be closely guarded. The munitions sometimes leak, so
they periodically are inspected and repackaged. Both jobs mean Uncle Sam
has to spend about $15 million a year just taking care of now-useless,
still-dangerous weapons.

Two years ago, the Pentagon approved a program that would safely dispose
of the mustard gas. Instead of burning the munitions (a controversial
method used at some other Army posts), the Pueblo depot would neutralize
the chemicals using water and bacteria. This process works as well as
incineration but poses fewer environmental risks.

Since the decision was made, the Army and its contractor have designed
the facilities and applied for a permit from the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment. The $1 billion project is on budget and
ahead of schedule.

Rather than reward this hard work, the Pentagon is about to punish it.
The Pentagon admits its needs $151 million next year just to keep the
Pueblo project going. Yet it has asked Congress to give the project only
$5 million in 2005. That 95 percent budget cut will delay construction
of the facilities for a year and seriously postpone the project's
completion.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~417~1952663,00.html

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