Hazardous Materials:

DOD Should Eliminate DS2 From Its Inventory of Decontaminants

NSIAD-90-10: Published: Apr 25, 1990. Publicly Released: Jun 29, 1990.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Nancy R. Kingsbury
(202) 512-4268
contact@gao.gov

 

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated Decontamination Solution 2 (DS2), focusing on: (1) the Army's management and disposal of DS2; (2) DS2 effects on the readiness of the Army's deployed weapon systems; and (3) whether the Army properly stored DS2.

GAO found that: (1) Army units continued to purchase DS2 and Army technical manuals continued to instruct personnel to use the solution regardless of its proven damaging effects on weapon systems; (2) the Army's DS2 storage facilities did not conform to Department of Defense regulations, resulting in potential danger to humans and the environment; (3) the Air Force and the Navy used effective alternatives to DS2; (4) Army tests indicated that household bleaches were as effective as DS2; (5) the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) did not inform buyers of potential dangers and safety precautions associated with DS2; (6) on February 13, 1990, DLA restricted DS2 sales to recyclers; and (7) DLA believed that it had no authority to limit individual buyers from buying DS2.

Recommendations for Executive Action

  1. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Army continues to use DS2. The most recent use was during the MidEast crisis. It has, however, initiated several research and development projects to find a replacement for DS2, but it does not expect to have a replacement until fiscal year 1998 at the earliest. Therefore, GAO should not continue to carry this as an open recommendation.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Army and the Marine Corps to use a substitute for DS2 and all services to eliminate DS2 from their inventory of decontaminants.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  2. Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) issued a message in September 1989 prohibiting all sales of DS2, except to recyclers. In March 1990, these instructions were incorporated into the DRMS handbook on Disposal Operating Procedures.

    Recommendation: The Secretary of Defense should direct the Director, DLA, to ensure that DS2 is not available to the general public and that DS2 sales are restricted to recyclers.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

 

Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations »

Sep 26, 2018

Sep 21, 2018

Sep 14, 2018

Sep 5, 2018

Aug 24, 2018

Aug 16, 2018

Jul 19, 2018

Jul 17, 2018

Jul 12, 2018

Jun 19, 2018

Looking for more? Browse all our products here