Tom Collina, research director at a Washington, D-C.-based nonprofit called the Arms Control Association, argued that the environmental impact studies and field meetings are a waste of money on facilities that will never be built. Collina called the procedure “political theater” orchestrated by Republicans in Congress as well as Democratic lawmakers whose districts could benefit from the facilities.

“I think it is very unlikely given the budget pressure that Congress and the federal government are under right now, but also because the systems we have on the West Coast are not doing very well,” said Collina, whose organization promotes “effective arm control policies.”