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Date: July 8, 2004
New Picatinny lab to develop better propellants
PICATINNY, N.J.-
Army officials here broke ground for a new $17.7M multi-functional laboratory for researching new propellants earlier today.
Sporting a white hardhat and wielding a shiny, chrome-plated shovel, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center Director Michael P. Devine lifted the first spadeful of dirt and construction officially began.
U. S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) joined Devine in symbolic excavation along with Dr. B. V. Rao, executive vice president, Hirani Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C., Mineola, N.Y., Mr. George Makhoul, president and chief executive officer, MES Inc., and Picatinny Garrison Commander Lieut. Col. Paul T. Seitz.
Devine called the groundbreaking "an important milestone in Picatinny's overall modernization efforts."
"When this high energy propellant formulation complex is completed, we will look at it with pride and recognize that we have accomplished something that will allow us to better serve and protect our nation's Warfighters," he told the audience of one hundred guests and employees.
Frelinghuysen spoke briefly during the ceremony, praising Picatinny and calling it one of the most important defense facilities in the nation.
He also called for a moment of silence in memory of Marine 2nd Lt. John T. Wroblewski of Oak Ridge and Army Spc. Ryan E. Doltz of Mine Hill. Doltz and Wroblewski lost their lives in Iraq earlier this year.
The new facility will support exploratory and advanced research and development of propellants, propelling charges and igniters for the U. S. military, Devine said.
It will consist of seventeen different buildings of varying size.
"When completed, this new facility will replace 34 buildings at Picatinny where this work currently is performed."
"Consolidation of these activities in one location will save us approximately $1 million per year," he noted.
Devine said that the facility is the installation's largest single military construction project to date.
The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, one of Picatinny's largest organizations, will operate the facility.
The new facility is being built on the site of a former explosive operations area in the east central portion of the installation.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District will oversee the project. The facility will be built by Hirani/MES JV. It is scheduled for completion in 2007.
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