Binary chemical weapons

Binary Chemical Weapons Chemical weapons formed from two non-lethal elements (called precursors) through a chemical reaction after the munitions are fired or launched. Binary weapons were manufactured, stored, and transported with only one of the chemical elements in the weapon. The second element was to be loaded into the weapon at the battlefield. As of November 1993, the precursors for the binary chemical weapons are stored at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland Pine Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas Tooele Army Depot, Utah and Umatilla Depot Activity, Oregon. 

The locations and quantities of binary chemical weapons are well documented and understood by the Army. Binary weapon systems principally involve an artillery projectile and components of the bigeye bomb. The projectile is composed of chemical elements, a metal casing, and explosive components. Although the bigeye bomb was never produced or stockpiled, some associated chemical elements must be destroyed. 

Category Characteristic Number of sites Disposal cost estimate Time frame (years) 

Binary chemical weapons The locations and quantities are well-documented. The nature of the chemical elements and the components are understood by the Army. 4 0.19 10 

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Chapter 8 covers components that are used to make binary chemical weapons. The chapter covers three main components that are used to make GB2 and VX2 (the binary equivalents of GB and VX). Only those materials not easily found elsewhere are listed. For example, one of the components for binary VX2 is elemental sulfur (designated NE), the information about sulfur is readily available and is not dealt with herein. 

That kind of definition resulted from the fact that binary chemical weapons had to be... 

For over 70 years the U.S. has produced and stored chemical weapons. In addition to the military arsenal, there are also "non-stockpile" materials. Non-stockpile material includes buried chemical warfare material, binary chemical weapons, recovered chemical weapons, and former production facilities. Some of these materials date back to World War I development and production efforts. Not all of these sites are still under military control. For example, in 1993, a large number of World War I chemical shells were removed from a residential neighborhood in Washington, D.C. The burial site was discovered by construction crews while excavating the basement of a new home. In addition to non-stockpile materials, there have also been several situations where individuals have claimed to possess chemical munitions and threatened to release their contents. For these reasons, it would be beneficial to be able to rapidly identify suspect munitions. 

Destroying binary chemical weapons, miscellaneous chemical warfare material, recovered chemical weapons, and former production facilities in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, in compliance with public safety and environmental requirements and regulations, and in coordination with the potentially affected public and... 

There are certain chemical munitions, materiel, and facilities that are not specifically included in the U.S. stockpile of unitary chemical weapons (those containing a single lethal chemical agent). These items are referred to as nonstockpile chemical warfare materiel and consist of binary chemical weapons, miscellaneous chemical warfare materiel, recovered chemical weapons, former chemical weapon production facilities, and buried chemical warfare materiel. 

In 1993, the United States signed the U.N.-sponsored Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and the Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, commonly referred to as the Chemical Weapons Convention. The United States agreed to dispose of (1) binary chemical weapons, recovered chemical weapons, and former chemical weapon production facilities within 10 years and (2) miscellaneous chemical warfare materiel within five years of the date the convention becomes effective. If ratified by the U.S. Senate, the convention becomes effective 180 days after the 65th nation ratifies the treaty, but not sooner than January 13, 1995. Under the terms of the convention, chemical weapons buried prior to 1977 are exempt from disposal as long as they remain buried. In the United States, burial was... 

Non-stockpile chemical materiel includes buried chemical weapons, recovered chemical materiel, binary chemical weapons, former production facilities, and miscellaneous chemical materiel. 

U.S. Army. 1999a. Binary Chemical Weapons. NSCMP information products brochure. Available at . 

In 1981, the secretary of defense issued a memorandum to proceed to acquire binary chemical bombs. The appropriation restrictions of 1976, however, blocked procurement of binary munitions for several more years. The next step came in 1985 when the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 99-145 authorizing production of chemical weapons. The final step came in 1987, when President Reagan certified to congress that all their conditions had been met to start production of binary chemical weapons.3... 

Binary chemical weapons use toxic chemicals produced by mixing two compounds immediately before or during use. Binaiy weapons do not necessarily employ new toxic chemicals. In U.S. parlance, relatively innocuous precursors were stored separately and... 

In addition, the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993) mandates requirements for chemical demilitarization. Congress began that effort in earnest with the EY 1993 Defense Authorization Act (PL 102-484), directing the Army to identify the locations, types, and quantities of all non-stockpile chemical materiel, explain disposal methods, estimate costs, establish a schedule for their destruction, and discuss transportation alternatives. Nonstockpile CWM includes buried CWM, binary chemical weapons, recovered chemical weapons, former production facilities, and miscellaneous CWM. 

Chemical warfare materiel (CWM) encompasses diverse items that were used during 60 years of efforts by the United States to develop a capability for condncting chemical warfare. Non-Stockpile CWM (NSCWM) is materiel not included in the current U.S. inventory of chemical munitions and includes buried materiel, recovered materiel, components of binary chemical weapons, former production facilities, and miscellaneous materiel. NSCWM that had been buried on former military sites is increasingly being dug up as the land is developed for other purposes. Other NSCWM may be found on or near the surface at former research facilities or test and firing ranges. 

S. Fetter, Ballistic Missiles and Weapons of Mass Destruction What is the Threat What Should Be Done International Security, vol.l6, no.l (Summer 1991), pp.5-42 see also T.S. Gold, Impact of Chemical Warfare on Civilian Populations , Binary Chemical Weapons, Hearings before the Committee on Appropriations United States Senate, 97th Congress, second session, 6 May 1982, pp.l 13-16. 

Committee on Appropriations, Binary Chemical Weapons, 97th Congress, second session, 5 and 6 May 1982. 

J. Perry Robinson, Hearings. .. Binary Chemical Weapons, pp. 43,49. 

T. S. Gold, statements in Hearings. .. Departmentof Defense Appropriations for 1984, p. 453 saA Binary Chemical Weapons, p. 110. 

Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1984, 98th Congress, first session (1 February 1983) p. 121 Congressional Record -Senate (13 July 1983)pp. S9790 and 9804. See also M.Meselson and J. Perry Robinson, Hearings. .. Binary Chemical Weapons, pp. 31, 37, 44-5, 51 Congressional Record -House (15 June 1983) p. H4003. 

Congressional Record-House (22 July 1982) pp. H4475-6 Congressional Record - Senate (16 September 1980) p. S12 644 and (13 July 1983) pp. S9785 and S9789 J. F. Leonard, statement. .. Binary Chemical Weapons, p. 6. 

J. Perry Robinson, statement... Binary Chemical Weapons, pp. 47,60 Old Fears, New Weapons Brewing a Chemical Arms Race , The Defense Monitor, vol. IX, no. 10 (1980) p. 7. 

G. Hart, letter to the Wall Street Journal (4 February 1982) p. 31 Congressional Record-Senate 16Septsmber 1980)p. S12 644(13 July 1983) p. S9787 (8 November 1983) p. S15 638 J. F. Leonard, M. Meselson and J. Perry Robinson, statements. .. Binary Chemical Weapons, pp. 7,38,43. 

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