Chemical Weapons: Army's Emergency Preparedness Program Has Financial Management Weaknesses
NSIAD-95-94
Published: Mar 15, 1995. Publicly Released: Apr 17, 1995.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed how Army Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) funds were spent between fiscal years (FY) 1988 and 1994, focusing on: (1) the purposes for which funds were allocated; (2) how funds were allocated to states and counties associated with four chemical weapons storage sites; and (3) CSEPP financial reporting and internal control systems.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should consolidate financial as well as programmatic functions at the new joint CSEPP office in the Chemical and Biological Defense Command. |
Closed – Implemented
In response to the recommendation, 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.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should strengthen the new office's procedures for financial reporting and accountability, including requiring regions, states, and counties to report financial data with the format used to award allocations. |
Closed – Implemented
In response to the recommendation, 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. In addition, GAO reported that the states and the Army held $67 million in unexpended funds at the end of fiscal year 1994. Those unexpended funds have been accounted for and are no longer outstanding.
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| Federal Emergency Management Agency | The Director, FEMA, should remove CSEPP from the agency's comprehensive cooperative agreements umbrella and administer the program separately, not commingled with other agency programs. |
Closed – Not Implemented
FEMA manages CSEPP through a separate cooperative agreement consistent with the procedures established in its Performance Partnership Agreement Program with the states. It does not plan to change this process.
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Topics
AllotmentAppropriated fundsArmy facilitiesChemical warfareChemical weaponsEmergency managementEmergency preparednessEmergency preparedness programsFederal fundsFinancial managementFunds managementInternal controlsWeapons