Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA584
2008-08-28 13:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
FY09 NADR REQUEST FOR UXO REMEDIATION NEAR SOFIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSF #0584 2411302 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 281302Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5356 INFO RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000584
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: FY09 NADR REQUEST FOR UXO REMEDIATION NEAR SOFIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 88343
B. SOFIA 451
UNCLAS SOFIA 000584
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: FY09 NADR REQUEST FOR UXO REMEDIATION NEAR SOFIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 88343
B. SOFIA 451
1. (U) SUMMARY. Post greatly appreciates the funding
provided in Reftel A to support Bulgarian UXO clean up
efforts at Chelopechene Ammo Storage Facility. With these
resources, the Bulgarians predict they can complete the clean
up of most of the blast site before the end of the year.
However, even with this funding, the innermost section of the
site (with the highest concentration of UXO),will remain
beyond the capabilities of the Bulgarian Armed Forces to
remediate. In light of the Defense Minister's request for
assistance and based on discussions with the Bulgarian
military and State PM/WRA, post requests approximately
$800,000 to $1.2 million in additional NADR funding in FY
2009 to cover the cost of a hiring a U.S. contractor to
complete clean up of the site. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) The furor over the 3 JUL 2008 explosions at an ammo
storage facility outside Sofia has subsided, but Bulgarian
clean up efforts remain severely hampered by lack of
essential equipment and supplies. The approximately $232,000
provided for this purpose under Embassy Sofia's FY 2008 NADR
funding will be of great assistance to Bulgarian efforts. In
addition to this, and as discussed during PM/WRA Mark Adams's
visit to Sofia, post requests additional FY 2009 NADR funds
for cleanup of the most difficult portions of the blast site.
Hiring a U.S. contractor to complete this work is estimated
to cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
3. (U) U.S. contractor assistance with the innermost
portion of the site was specifically requested by Defense
Minister Tsonev in a 30 JUL 2008 letter. Follow-up inquiries
by the Bulgarian MOD indicate the importance the Bulgarians
place on this additional assistance. Not only will these
funds deepen U.S.-Bulgarian military partnership and generate
goodwill from the Defense Minister and the Bulgarian military
(who have been hit hard in the press for their handling of
the incident),but they would help ensure that site does not
pose a public risk or result in a death or injury to
inadequately equipped Bulgarian explosive ordinance personnel.
4. (U) COMMENT: In addition to the benefits above, post
can use the FY09 NADR funds to encourage Bulgaria to use its
own resources to address other shared SA/LW destruction
priorities, such as elimination of obsolete weapons systems
and consolidation of ammo storage facilities. Post will also
reinforce its long-standing efforts to persuade Bulgaria to
accept U.S. funding to destroy its military stocks of
MANPADS.
McEldowney
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: FY09 NADR REQUEST FOR UXO REMEDIATION NEAR SOFIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 88343
B. SOFIA 451
1. (U) SUMMARY. Post greatly appreciates the funding
provided in Reftel A to support Bulgarian UXO clean up
efforts at Chelopechene Ammo Storage Facility. With these
resources, the Bulgarians predict they can complete the clean
up of most of the blast site before the end of the year.
However, even with this funding, the innermost section of the
site (with the highest concentration of UXO),will remain
beyond the capabilities of the Bulgarian Armed Forces to
remediate. In light of the Defense Minister's request for
assistance and based on discussions with the Bulgarian
military and State PM/WRA, post requests approximately
$800,000 to $1.2 million in additional NADR funding in FY
2009 to cover the cost of a hiring a U.S. contractor to
complete clean up of the site. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) The furor over the 3 JUL 2008 explosions at an ammo
storage facility outside Sofia has subsided, but Bulgarian
clean up efforts remain severely hampered by lack of
essential equipment and supplies. The approximately $232,000
provided for this purpose under Embassy Sofia's FY 2008 NADR
funding will be of great assistance to Bulgarian efforts. In
addition to this, and as discussed during PM/WRA Mark Adams's
visit to Sofia, post requests additional FY 2009 NADR funds
for cleanup of the most difficult portions of the blast site.
Hiring a U.S. contractor to complete this work is estimated
to cost between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
3. (U) U.S. contractor assistance with the innermost
portion of the site was specifically requested by Defense
Minister Tsonev in a 30 JUL 2008 letter. Follow-up inquiries
by the Bulgarian MOD indicate the importance the Bulgarians
place on this additional assistance. Not only will these
funds deepen U.S.-Bulgarian military partnership and generate
goodwill from the Defense Minister and the Bulgarian military
(who have been hit hard in the press for their handling of
the incident),but they would help ensure that site does not
pose a public risk or result in a death or injury to
inadequately equipped Bulgarian explosive ordinance personnel.
4. (U) COMMENT: In addition to the benefits above, post
can use the FY09 NADR funds to encourage Bulgaria to use its
own resources to address other shared SA/LW destruction
priorities, such as elimination of obsolete weapons systems
and consolidation of ammo storage facilities. Post will also
reinforce its long-standing efforts to persuade Bulgaria to
accept U.S. funding to destroy its military stocks of
MANPADS.
McEldowney