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Legislation would ease bureaucratic burden for Arsenal Thursday, May 1, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Pine Bluff Arsenal officials said Wednesday they are hopeful that Congress this year will fix an obstacle to retaining civilian security guards at the military installation. Arsenal managers have asked lawmakers to eliminate a regulation that requires them to seek permission to extend duty contracts for the temporary employees. Arsenal civilian director Larry Wright called the requirement a "burden." Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said he would attempt to change the rule with a provision in the 2008 Department of Defense spending authorization bill. Pryor and other members of the Senate Armed Services committee are drafting the bill in closed-door meetings this week. Pryor said the provision ensures that the arsenal has adequate security as it winds down a years-long disposal of volatile chemical weapons. "It's not that they haven't had that security, but just that it's been a bureaucratic process to keep it," said Lisa Ackerman, a spokeswoman for Pryor. Money for security guard pay has sometimes been in question because of the requirement, he added. "We don't want the bean counters in Washington to fool around with what may be a dangerous situation," Pryor said. Rachel Newton, a public affairs officer for the arsenal, refused to discuss any issue related to security at the installation. Wright, in a statement, said the provision would authorize the secretary of the Army to extend terms for security employees. The arsenal now must request extensions from the federal Office of Personnel Management, which is not associated with the Pentagon. The security guards and other civilian employees associated with the chemical weapons destruction work are hired for an initial term of four years. |
