[CPEO-MEF] Chemical weapons disposal behind schedule

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Chemical weapons disposal behind schedule

By Peter Eisler
USA TODAY
Novembert 2, 2004

WASHINGTON ? The Pentagon is missing treaty deadlines for wiping out its
chemical weapons, which raises concerns about possible terrorism or
accidents at eight U.S. sites where the stockpiles are to be destroyed.

Federal audits find that the military will not eliminate its 31,000 tons
of deadly nerve gases and skin-blistering agents by 2012 as required by
the international Chemical Weapons Convention.

The military destroyed only 6% of the arsenal in the past 12 months. And
disposal plants that were supposed to start this summer in Newport,
Ind., and Pine Bluff, Ark., still aren't running. In all, 32% of U.S.
chemical weapons have been eliminated since work began in 1990.

The Pentagon's struggles to meet destruction deadlines lessens U.S.
leverage to press Russia to eliminate its chemical arms, seen by U.S.
officials as a proliferation risk.

Local officials and community activists near the eight U.S. disposal
sites where chemical weapons remain stockpiled say the delays also raise
domestic safety and security risks. They fear accidental chemical
releases or attacks by terrorists to detonate or steal the weapons. One
artillery round filled with nerve gas could kill thousands in a crowd.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-11-02-chemweapons-usat_x.htm

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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