United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-07-23 monographic deposited born digital 85 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-96-150 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150 P0b002ee1803883c5 f:ns96150 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150 NSIAD-96-150 Army facilities Emergency preparedness Chemical warfare Intergovernmental relations Waste disposal Hazardous substances Communications equipment Funds management Defense contingency planning Army Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Alabama Calhoun County (AL) Alabama 800-Mega Hertz Communications Project Letter Report NSIAD

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) for Alabama and Calhoun County, Alabama, focusing on: (1) the status and funding of CSEPP in these areas; (2) the impact of federal, state, and local management on Alabama's program; and (3) Calhoun County's opposition to an Army chemical stockpile disposal facility.<p/>GAO found that: (1) Alabama counties near Anniston Army Depot are not fully prepared to respond to a chemical stockpile emergency; (2) as of March 1995, Alabama had spent one-third of its CSEPP funds, and Calhoun County had spent one-fifth of its CSEPP funds; (3) Alabama and Calhoun County have been unable to spend more of their CSEPP funds because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, and local officials cannot agree on specific requirements for major capital projects, and FEMA has not given Alabama or Calhoun County permission to spend additional CSEPP funds; (4) more than 83 percent of Alabama's unexpended funds are associated with four projects, including the 800-MegaHertz (MHz) Communications Project, collective protection of special facilities, tone alert radios, and personal protective equipment; (5) Calhoun County will oppose a state environmental permit for the construction of the Anniston disposal facility until it receives a written commitment from the Army supporting the county's emergency preparedness requirements, or an acceptable alternative; (6) the lack of progress in Alabama's CSEPP is the result of management weaknesses at the federal level and inadequate action by state and local agencies; (7) these weaknesses have resulted in time-consuming negotiations and delays in implementing projects critical to emergency preparedness; and (8) the Army's financial management of CSEPP has been ineffective. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150.pdf GAO/NSIAD-96-150 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-150 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-96-150; Chemical Weapons Stockpile: Emergency Preparedness in Alabama Is Hampered by Management Weaknesses; Army facilities Emergency preparedness Chemical warfare Intergovernmental relations Waste disposal Hazardous substances Communications equipment Funds management Defense contingency planning Army Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Alabama Calhoun County (AL) Alabama 800-Mega Hertz Communications Project Title 42 Section 6901 42 U.S.C. 6901 Public Law 99-145