Blunt approves $2 million e-mail archive

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Governor Matt Blunt has ordered work to begin on a $2 million plan to archive government e-mails.

Blunt had asked the state's computer chief to research ways of permanently saving e-mails last November, after concerns were raised about e-mail deletions in his own office.

Documents obtained through a Sunshine Law request by The Associated Press show that Blunt approved the use of existing state money for the plan Tuesday. Blunt also directed the state's chief information officer, Dan Ross, to move forward with the plan immediately.

A report by Ross to the governor estimates it will cost $1.6 million to set up the e-mail retention system and $487,000 annually to run it.