A transcript of Base Realignment and Closure Commission deliberations raises the question: How many facilities does the Army need to destroy conventional ammunition?

BRAC commissioners voted on Aug. 24 to keep the Utah chemical weapons incinerator open beyond its expected lifetime, if it is feasible for it to operate as a conventional ammunition destruction facility. The action was taken despite the Army already having "a great excess" of such plants, according to a transcript of the meeting.

The Army had recommended that the incinerator, located near Stockton, Tooele County, be closed once it finishes destroying the local chemical weapons stockpile. But BRAC overturned the recommendation.

Instead, BRAC said it could continue to operate after that, providing a study shows it is feasible to use it to destroy conventional ammunition.

BRAC posted what it calls an "uncertified" transcript of its deliberations that afternoon on the Internet at www.brac.gov/docs/UncertifiedTranscript_24AugPM.pdf.

The document shows the opposition of former Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, a commission member, to the Army's recommendation. It also shows that the purpose for which the feasibility study was ordered — destroying conventional weapons — is already amply covered.

George Delgado, a lead BRAC analyst, introduced the Deseret Chemical discussion by saying BRAC "had communication from the community, which expressed an interest in trying to convert the chemical demilitarization plant to a conventional ammunition demilitarization mission once its chemical demil mission was completed."

He noted that the Army said the plant wasn't designed to handle conventional ammunition and that it would "cost a lot of money" to convert it to that purpose.

"I know, Commissioner Hansen, I believe you do disagree with that," Delgado added.

Philip E. Coyle, one of the BRAC commissioners, noted that the community had advocated "an intriguing proposal here, and it looks quite credible. We did not have the time to pursue" it, so he asked for a feasibility study of converting the depot into a conventional weapons demilitarization plant.

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Harold W. Gehman, a retired Navy admiral and a member of the commission, asked, "Mr. Delgado, did we not just vote and decide that the Army has a great excess of conventional ammunition demil capability?"

Delgado replied, "Yes, sir, to a certain extent you have."

The motion to keep Deseret Chemical Depot open if a study shows it is feasible to convert it to destroy conventional munitions passed with seven in favor, one opposed and one abstaining.


E-mail: bau@desnews.com

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