摘要: The Army plans to destroy its entire chemical weapons stockpile by 2007 and istaking measures to protect the public before and during the demilitarization process. In 1988, the Army established the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Pre... 展开 The Army plans to destroy its entire chemical weapons stockpile by 2007 and istaking measures to protect the public before and during the demilitarization process. In 1988, the Army established the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program to assist the 10 states with communities near the eight storage facilities obtain the additional necessary equipment and training they need to be fully prepared to protect the public, the facilities' workforces, and the environment in the unlikely event of a chemical stockpile accident. The Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency share the federal government's responsibility for the program's funding and execution. On the basis of varying needs for critical items (such as warning sirens, protective equipment, and response plans) required by the states, the Army and the agency agree that when these items are in place, the states and communities are fully prepared to respond to a chemical emergency. In 1997, on the basis of a congressional request, we reported on the status of the program and identified several key management weaknesses. After an accidental chemical release at the storage facility in Utah in May 2000, you requested that we perform another assessment of the program's status and of any continuing management problems. As agreed with your offices, we addressed the following questions: (1) What is the status of the program's funding (2) What progress have the communities in the 10 states made toward being fully prepared and (3) What changes in federal management relations with the states and communities in the program could help achieve the goal of full preparedness. 收起