THE CHEMICAL DEMILITARIZATION CHALLENGE

The committee further finds that quantitative risk assessments (QRAs) and health risk assessments (HRAs) are critical inputs to the dialogue necessary to ensure adequate public involvement in and understanding of chemical demilitarization activities. Maintaining a prudent balance between the public s right to know the risks they face and the need to protect sensitive information will be an ongoing challenge for the chemical demilitarization program. Without adequate risk information available to the public, it will be difficult to develop or maintain the level of public trust necessary for PMCD to accomplish its mission. 

A particular challenge in chemical agent stockpile incineration facilities is the need for personnel to wear protective clothing in parts of the facility where agent is present or might be accidentally released. The highest level of protection is a demilitarization protective ensemble (DPE) suit that resembles a space suit with an air supply system and can allow workers to perform tasks in contaminated areas for periods of an hour or more. The suits are clumsy and hot, so work needs to be planned in advance to make sure that tasks can be performed without undue stress to the worker. The... 

---