Chemical Weapons: Physical Security for the U.S. Chemical Stockpile
NSIAD-91-200
Published: May 15, 1991. Publicly Released: May 15, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the adequacy of the Department of the Army's physical security measures to guard against attacks on chemical weapons storage and production facilities and against the diversion or theft of those weapons.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to monitor and evaluate overtime hours for security guards and associated costs. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army has initiated action to monitor and evaluate overtime hours for security guards and the associated costs, and revised Army Regulation 50-6-1.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to conduct a continuing objective analysis of the condition and readiness of the security guard fleets' motor vehicles at sites where there are concerns about vehicle reliability and take appropriate action to ensure vehicle readiness. |
Closed – Implemented
According to DOD, the Army has initiated a continuing, objective analysis of the condition and readiness of the security guard motor vehicle fleet and revised Army Regulation 50-6-1 to require this analysis.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to take actions necessary to ensure that personnel who do not meet the Chemical Personnel Reliability Program qualifications are not assigned to chemical storage sites. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army established this program issue as a special interest item to be evaluated periodically at each program unit through the surety inspection process.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to prescribe uniform and definitive procedures for local commanders of chemical storage sites to follow in performing formal site vulnerability assessments and require the commanders to document the processes they use to ensure that protection afforded chemical weapons is appropriate to risks and threats. |
Closed – Implemented
The regulation has been revised to ensure that uniform factors are considered by local commanders and to require that site vulnerability assessments be documented and contain recommended actions to counter identified vulnerabilities. Also, commanders' decisions are to be made a matter of record and a copy of each assessment is to be forwarded to Army Headquarters.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Army to review formal site vulnerability assessments and use the assessment results to determine whether changes to the minimum standards for safeguarding the chemical stockpile are needed. |
Closed – Implemented
According to DOD, all vulnerability assessments have been completed and, in response to OASD(C3I) request of November 8, 1991, the Army reviewed these assessments required by new regulation. This review indicated that assessments were adequate and changes to current physical security standards would not be recommended.
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Topics
Army facilitiesBuilding inspectionChemical weaponsChemical warfareEmployee trainingFacility securityHomeland securityLarcenyPhysical securityStaff utilizationStandards evaluationTerrorismWeapons