
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 14, 1990                   TAG: 9006140144
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

ARMY TO MISS DATE FOR WEAPONS DISPOSAL

The Army expects to miss an April 1997 deadline for destroying chemical weapons even though the Bush administration says disposal of the arms will begin ahead of schedule, a report released Wednesday says.

The General Accounting Office said in the report that the Army's disposal program has encountered several obstacles, including environmental limitations, community opposition and a shortfall in funds.

The investigative arm of Congress found also that the projected cost of destroying the arms has doubled from a preliminary estimate of $1.7 billion to $3.4 billion and will likely exceed the latest figure.

"Since current construction, equipment and personnel requirements have continued to rise, total program costs will increase even more," the GAO report said.

The GAO attributed the cost increases to incomplete information in the Army's preliminary estimate and changes in safety programs.

Destruction of the arms is supposed to begin by Dec. 31, 1992.

by CNB