By John Norton, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
Dec. 8--With work finally moving forward on Pueblo's chemical demilitarization program, $46.2 million in contracts have been awarded this year through the end of November, much of it to local firms.
Paul Henry, manager for Bechtel National Inc.'s operations here, and Gary Anderson, local head of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternative program, gave a year-end report this week to Colorado's Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission.
Henry said that $19.9 million went to Pueblo County firms, $11.9 million to other Colorado businesses and $14.4 million to contractors outside the state.
Work this year included a new road and security entrance to the chemical depot and site preparation for the weapons destruction plant.
Upcoming contracts will be awarded for underground utilities, fencing and lighting, firefighting systems, a titanium vessel, metal buildings, instruments, mechanical systems, water treatment, electrical equipment and a substation, construction materials and pipe.
ACWA still has to file a report to Congress under the Nunn-McCurdy law, triggered when cost estimates are 25 percent or more than originally budgeted. It's expected that Congress will recertify the cost estimates since the work here has to be done under an international treaty.
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Source: The Pueblo Chieftain
