OPERATIONS SPECIFIC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

How can the principles elaborated in Chapter 1 be translated into real improvements in the chemical and biological weapons defense posture of U.S. naval forces This chapter explores the operational dimension and priorities for achieving tangible operational improvements, both near term and far term, regardless of the state of the art of supporting technical capabilities. The discussion, expanded in the remainder of the chapter, focuses on three basic findings and recommendations  

Focal point for CONOPS. The Navy appears to lack a focal point for the development of policy, concepts of operations, and doctrine for chemical or biological warfare defense the Marine Corps appears to place greater emphasis on the problem. The committee recommends that the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) and the Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) be clearly designated as the primary authorities and given the requisite resources for the development of policy, concepts of operations, and doctrine for chemical and biological warfare defense issues. 

---

This section provides specific findings and recommendations on operational issues related to naval chemical and biological warfare defense. 

The committee s findings and recommendations are presented in four sections Medical Training for Casualty Management, Technical and Operational Shortfalls Drugs and Vaccines, Technical and Operational Shortfalls Medical Diagnostics, and Disease Reporting and Analysis. Medical policy issues specific to each area are addressed in the respective sections. 

In its entirety, this book constitutes a strong recommendation to workers in laboratories to exo-cise prudence in designing and carrying out their studies so as to maintain a safe workplace and safe operational procedures. In addition, the committee has identified a number of specific areas that need improvement, not only by laboratory workers themselves, but also by regulators at all levels and by chemical suppliers, in order to enhance the climate for laboratory safety. Summarized below are the committee s findings and specific recommendations for action. 

Based on this finding, it was recommended that a new corporate standard be developed and implemented for the other operating regions. Specifically, XYZ Chemical made the decision to apply the practices of the United States and Europe for the transport of bulk chloriue. These practices iuclude carrier requirements for tank car specifications, emergency response, and routing consideration. In some cases, these practices are more stringent than the country-spedfic requirements for these regions. 

Plastic pellets inadvertently lost from plastic production and warehouse facilities pose a threat to fish and wildlife. Therefore, the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has classified plastic pellets as significant materials. . The finding of even one pellet in a storm water run-off without a permit is now subject to federal regulatory action with the potential for substantial fines and penalties. As a result, the plastics industry has launched Operation Clean Sweep, an initiative to prevent the accidental release of pellets into the environment. Specific recommendations for handling polyolefins to prevent resin loss into the environment have been developed by the Society for the Plastics Industry (38). 

---