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B LETTER FROM JAMES R. AMBROSE, DATED OCTOBER 21, 1987 210 B Letter from James R. Ambrose, Dated October 21, 1987 This appendix contains a briefing letter from James R. Ambrose, Under Secretary of the Army, on the subject of Ocean Transport of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Stockpile. Source: PEIS (1988).
B LETTER FROM JAMES R. AMBROSE, DATED OCTOBER 21, 1987 211 S-3 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY WASHINGTON. D C. 20310-0102 October 21, 1987 MEMORANDUM FOR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION SUBJECT: Ocean Transport of Aberdeen Proving Ground StockpileâINFORMATION MEMORANDUM I have decided that, for the purpose of making a final determination of the programmatic alternative for the national disposal of obsolete chemical munitions, further consideration of the alternative to transport ton containers of bulk mustard chemical agents by ocean barge from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is not reasonable. The reasons for this decision are as follows: -- Given our Congressional mandate to destroy the stockpile by 1994, and the public interest in destroying the already leaking munitions as quickly as possible, the overall programmatic decision, which has already been delayed by a year, should not be further delayed for an indefinite period by necessary studies of a complex transportation scheme coupled with a multiplicity of different environmental areas. The word ''areas, as used in this paragraph, refers only to the waterway systems and contiguous land areas which lie within the jurisdiction of the continental United States. -- Rail transportation as an alternative to on-site disposal provides adequate consideration of transportation for the purposes of a national programmatic EIS. Analysis of this method of transportation will be accomplished in sufficient detail to provide reasonable comparison of the alternatives of removal from site versus disposal on site.
B LETTER FROM JAMES R. AMBROSE, DATED OCTOBER 21, 1987 212 S-4 -- Adequate consideration of the range of possible environmental impacts on the ecology of complex water systems such as the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries would entail, in all likelihood, lengthy and extensive studies. -- A national programmatic decision does not foreclose subsequent consideration of site-specific alternatives at a later date. cc: Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Logistics) The General Counsel Chief of Legislative Liaison Chief of Public Affairs (SAPA-PP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (DAMO-SW) Commanding General, U. S. Army Materiel Command (AMCCN) Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality