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 1994-04-26 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-94-159 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159 P0b002ee1803784da f:tns94159 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159 T-NSIAD-94-159 Army facilities Chemical warfare Munitions Property disposal Waste disposal Hazardous substances Environmental impact statements Cost analysis Safety standards Research and development Johnston Atoll Pueblo (CO) Army Chemical Munitions Stockpile Disposal Program Chemical Weapons Convention Testimony NSIAD The most feasible technological alternatives to the incineration of chemical weapons are in the initial stages of development and are more than a decade away from becoming fully operational. It is unlikely that any of these technologies will be ready in time to destroy the entire U.S. chemical weapons stockpile by the December 2204 deadline. Any of these alternative technologies could not, by itself, dispose of an entire chemical weapon. As a result, multiple technologies would have to be developed and tested. Because the alternative technologies are in the earliest stages of development, cost estimates are either nonexistent or unreliable. Similarly, their performance cannot be compared with that of incineration. GAO did, however, identify advantages and disadvantages to each technology. This testimony also discusses the operational safety of the Army's incineration facility on Johnston Atoll and the cryofracture process, which involves soaking munitions in liquid oxygen to make them brittle. The munitions are then crushed in a large hydraulic press before being incinerated. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159.htm GAO/T-NSIAD-94-159 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-94-159 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-94-159; Chemical Weapons: Issues Involving Destruction Technologies; Army facilities Chemical warfare Munitions Property disposal Waste disposal Hazardous substances Environmental impact statements Cost analysis Safety standards Research and development Johnston Atoll Pueblo (CO) Army Chemical Munitions Stockpile Disposal Program Chemical Weapons Convention