"That meeting was held over a week ago and we have yet to receive a response," Allard added.

Federal law currently prohibits transporting the munitions across state lines, he said. Also, if they were moved, that would "violate the agreement the Defense Department made with the people in Pueblo.

"This study is unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers' hard-earned dollars," Allard said.

Pentagon officials told him the study would conclude that transporting the weapons across state lines is not practical, he said.

"If that is the case, why do the study?"

Allard's bill would halt the study and force the Defense Department to "recognize that the only option for destroying its chemical munitions is to build a disposal site in Pueblo," he added.

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com