[CPEO-MEF] Senators oppose chem weapons transport studies

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

KY & CO Bi-Partisan Legislative Efforts Aim to Thwart Chem Weapons
Relocation Study

CHEMICAL WEAPONS WORKING GROUP
for immediate release Wednesday, January 26, 2005

KY AND CO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS "STEP UP" TO THWART STUDYING
TRANSPORTATION OF CHEM WEAPONS  

KY Senators McConnell and Bunning co-sponsor Senate bill banning the
study of transportation; KY Representative Chandler backs House version;
other states join  

In a strong showing of bi-partisanship, Senators and Representatives
from both parties took bold steps today to derail a study by the
Pentagon on interstate transportation of chemical weapons between
storage locations.

Led by Colorado Senators Allard (R-CO ) and Salazar (D-CO), the bill
introduced today states, "Funds available to the Department of Defense
may not be obligated or expended for any study related to the
transportation of chemical munitions across State boundaries."

In his statement on the Senate floor, Sen. Allard appeared frustrated
with the Pentagon's plans saying, "Nevermind that this option has been
studied at least three times in the past decade.  Nevermind that current
law prohibits the transport of chemical munitions across state lines.
This study is unnecessary and waste of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars."

Joining Allard and his Colorado colleague Salazar, were Kentucky
Senators McConnell (R-KY) and Bunning (R-KY) and Alabama Senator Shelby
(R-AL) as original co-sponsors of the bill.  Shortly after the bill was
introduced, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced he planned to co-sponsor also.

In a prepared statement, Sen. McConnell laid it on the line saying, 
"Now the Department has suggested it wants to transport the weapons from
these depots through our communities to incineration sites.  This will
not happen so long as I am a U.S. Senator."

Sen. Bunning also released a statement saying, "We must do everything in
our power to make sure that these weapons are destroyed in a safe and
timely manner and not allow the Department of Defense to further delay
this project or endanger the population."

On the House side, Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) submitted identical
legislation with Ben Chandler (D-KY) co-sponsoring--other Members are
expected to join as well.

All this comes on the heels of a series of internal documents released
over the last two weeks by the Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG), a
Kentucky based national watchdog group monitoring the U.S. disposal
program.  The documents showed that directives had been issued by the
Pentagon to initiate a study of the "relocation of the stockpiles among
sites"--something Defense Department officials just last week assured
Senate Members was not practical.

CWWG Director, Craig Williams said, "It's clear that certain officials
inside the Pentagon were attempting to execute this study without
informing anyone--citizens at the storage sites, communities along
potential transportation routes, or even the Congress. Worse yet, when
'called on it' by elected officials, they denied it was happening. So
much for their 'open and transparent' program."

Other documents released by the CWWG show the Pentagon's plans to gut
funding for disposal facilities in CO and KY.  To this Sen. McConnell
said, "Currently, the citizens of Kentucky and Colorado are being robbed
to pay for the massive cost overruns at incineration sites throughout
the country. After the time and energy I have expended on ensuring these
weapons are disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, I
am personally insulted by the Defense Department's efforts to delay
destruction and its suggestion of transporting the weapons elsewhere."

Williams noted that the whole discussion, including today's action, may
well have never occurred had the CWWG not brought the inside information
to light. "I've always believed that the basic tenets of democracy
include citizen involvement via representative government.  Both these
principles clearly escape those running this program at Department of
Defense. Thankfully we've helped provide a modicum of accountability
surrounding these latest developments.  But who knows what else they're
up to?"            

For the original press release, go to
http://www.cwwg.org/pr_01.26.05delgsthwart.html 

-- 


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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