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News PINE BLUFF ARSENAL EXPECTS TO RECEIVE $25 MILLION IN STIMULUS FUNDS By Amy Riggin/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF Continued investment in the Pine Bluff Arsenal — particularly its manufacturing infrastructure — is key to preserving jobs once chemical weapons disposal is over in two to three years, said Larry Wright, civilian executive assistant to the commander.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t address that question — not a minute goes by that we don’t live that question,” Wright said, addressing a member of the audience who asked if employees will lose jobs and, if so, how many. “Our priorities are investing, setting the conditions for an enduring future in this community and taking care of our workforce.” “The mission here is obviously to create jobs,” Wright said, although he did not know how many. “We expect to save $1 million a year over the next 20 years after energy improvements are completed,” Wright said. The design of a $12 million Armed Forces Reserve Center is about 35 percent complete, with construction scheduled next year. The facility will accommodate 200. Also next year, the arsenal plans to spend $25 million to upgrade 71 existing warehouses that store pyrotechnic ammunition. A few years ago four of 10 World War II-era residential homes were demolished and construction began on five new houses. Three of the houses, including a new commander’s house, are expected to be finished in May. That project’s cost is $2.15 million. Efforts to modernize a white phosphorous manufacturing facility began in 2004 and the $31 million project is 98 percent complete, Wright said. Construction of an $18 million chemical quality evaluation facility that began in 2002 also has been completed. Wright said the 34,000-square-foot “showcase” facility tests chemical defense equipment to determine effectiveness and shelf life. “There is a big demand for this kind of work,” he said. Lastly, construction of a $2.75 million child development center that began in 2001 has been completed. Wright referred to the manufacturing of ammunition such as white phosphorous and chemical defense equipment, which includes protective masks, suits and boots, as the arsenal’s “bread and butter.” He noted, however, that as the war in Iraq winds down demand for those products will decrease as well. “That means we’ve got to create new capabilities,” he said. Wright said another $76 million in infrastructure investment from 2011 to 2015 is in the “concept phase.” The Arsenal is Southeast Arkansas’ third-largest employer with 2,300 employees, roughly 800 of whom are contracted to dispose of chemical weapons. The 13,500-acre installation is the only active Army base in the state, Wright said. David Reber of Washington Defense Group, EG&G Division of URS Corp., said the disposal of mustard, the last chemical agent slated for incineration, is expected to be completed in 2011 or 2012. URS is also under contract to dismantle the facility, which he said is expected to take until 2013 or 2014. The facility completed destruction of rockets and landmines containing VX nerve agent in June and finished disposal of rockets containing sarin nerve agent in May 2007. Disposal operations began in March 2005. |
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