Lack of funding postpones chemical disposal
Kasey Doyle/News editor
Issue date: 1/20/05 Section: News
The new budget is an inappropriate way to handle the national program, Williams said.
"By cutting this program you create a known significant risk to people of this community," Williams said. "This has a potential significant impact on (Eastern)."
Eastern students also said they think there is a greater risk for people in the Madison County area.
"I feel more at risk now that the funds are being cut," said Savannah Hardin, a freshman pre-med major from Powell County.
Hardin said students have not been educated about the chemicals housed at the depot, She suggested Eastern host a forum to discuss the types of chemicals housed there.
"If I heard more about it, I might feel more concerned," said Jessica Bullens, a senior elementary education major from Paint Lick. "It would probably scare me more if I knew someone would be harmed from it for a fact."
"It seems to me that (Eastern) should, through all means possible, weigh in on this issue ... try and assist local elected officials and citizen groups ... who are attempting to fix this," Williams said.
According to the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Web site, approximately 2 percent of the nation's original chemical weapons stockpile is housed at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
The depot stores 523 tons of nerve and blister agents. The two nerve agents, GB and VX, are deadly.
"We have the most risky munitions with the most risky agents," Williams said.
Williams predicted the disposal of the chemical weapons would not occur until 2018.
Reach Kasey at
kasey_doyle7@eku.edu
"By cutting this program you create a known significant risk to people of this community," Williams said. "This has a potential significant impact on (Eastern)."
Eastern students also said they think there is a greater risk for people in the Madison County area.
"I feel more at risk now that the funds are being cut," said Savannah Hardin, a freshman pre-med major from Powell County.
Hardin said students have not been educated about the chemicals housed at the depot, She suggested Eastern host a forum to discuss the types of chemicals housed there.
"If I heard more about it, I might feel more concerned," said Jessica Bullens, a senior elementary education major from Paint Lick. "It would probably scare me more if I knew someone would be harmed from it for a fact."
"It seems to me that (Eastern) should, through all means possible, weigh in on this issue ... try and assist local elected officials and citizen groups ... who are attempting to fix this," Williams said.
According to the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Web site, approximately 2 percent of the nation's original chemical weapons stockpile is housed at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
The depot stores 523 tons of nerve and blister agents. The two nerve agents, GB and VX, are deadly.
"We have the most risky munitions with the most risky agents," Williams said.
Williams predicted the disposal of the chemical weapons would not occur until 2018.
Reach Kasey at
kasey_doyle7@eku.edu