Group works to ensure public stays informed

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Kentucky
RICHMOND REGISTER
Group works to ensure public stays informed
By Jodi Whitaker
January 22, 2004

As the contractor works to destroy 523 tons of chemical weapons stored
at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Craig Williams, executive director of the
Chemical Weapons Working Group, says it is important for the community
to be aware of what is happening.

"Information is critical if people want to have a long-term meaningful
role in the execution of this program," Williams said. "They need to be
involved."

The community will have an opportunity to get involved Thursday as the
program manager for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, Bechtel
Parsons Blue Grass and the Blue Grass Army Depot host a public meeting
to share information about the program's permitting process.

"This is one dimension of a very complicated process, but it's a very
important one. It has to do with the permitting that allows this
facility to be operated. This community is going to be dramatically
affected by this whole program, and clearly the permitting is an
important piece.

People need to understand what the permitting process means and how it's
proposed to be fulfilled, so that if they have concerns or issues or
questions about how it is going to work, they can articulate them."

Kevin Regan, the environmental permitting manager for Bechtel Parsons
Blue Grass -- the contractor for the chemical weapons destruction -- said
the first step is applying for a Research Development and Demonstration
Permit, which will allow Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass to develop an
integrated process for using the selected technology to destroying the
chemical weapons stored at the depot.

The chemical munitions stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot include nerve
agents VX and GB in projectiles and rockets, and a blister agent --
mustard -- in projectiles.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.richmondregister.com/reader.cfm?si=1&sd=8142

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