Chemical Weapon Stockpile: Army's Emergency Preparedness Program Has Been Slow to Achieve Results
NSIAD-94-91
Published: Feb 22, 1994. Publicly Released: Mar 23, 1994.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP), focusing on: (1) CSEPP progress in improving the emergency preparedness capabilities of communities near chemical weapon storage sites; and (2) the effectiveness of CSEPP management.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should determine the realism of existing milestones, resource needs, and barriers to achieving goals for each CSEPP initiative. Using this information, the Secretary should establish new baseline milestones for each initiative and require periodic progress reviews by the Army official designated with responsibility for the program. |
Closed – Implemented
In response to the recommendation, the Department of the Army restructured the overall management of CSEPP and established the CSEPP Core Team Office, which includes FEMA and Army staff, in the Office of Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization. In addition, DOD has designated the Army's chemical demilitarization program, including CSEPP, as a major defense acquisition program. The designation requires the Army to: (1) develop a new CSEPP cost and schedule baseline; (2) prepare quarterly CSEPP Defense Acquisition Executive Summaries; and (3) submit annual CSEPP acquisition reports to Congress. The new CSEPP cost and schedule baseline was completed in September 1995. According to CSEPP officials, they will continue to revise and update the cost and schedule baseline when changes occur in the program.
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| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should change CSEPP committee structure to establish a single focal point of accountability within the Army to implement the program and to coordinate with FEMA and other agencies as needed. |
Closed – Implemented
In response to the recommendation, the Department of the Army restructured the overall management of CSEPP and established the CSEPP Core Team office, which includes FEMA and Army staff, in the Chemical and Biological Defense Command. The Army also streamlined procedures, took actions to improve responsiveness to the states and counties, and enhanced the budget process.
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Topics
Army facilitiesChemical accidentsChemical warfareDefense contingency planningEmergency preparednessEmergency preparedness programsEmergency responsestate relationsFunds managementHazardous substancesMunitionsSafety standardsWaste disposal