DoD Recovered Chemical Warfare Material (RCWM) Program

Introduction

The DoD Recovered Chemical Warfare Materiel (RCWM) Program is comprised of a variety of organizations with distinct responsibilities during explosives or munitions emergency responses to address munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or chemical agent (CA)-contaminated debris or environmental media that pose a CA hazard. The RCWM Program also supports environmental responses to address munitions response sites (MRS) and other locations known or suspected to contain munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or CA-contaminated debris or environmental media that pose a CA hazard (referred to as CWM sites) within the United States.

Figure 1 RCWM Program Organization Structure

Organizational Roles

Secretary of the Army

In May 2016, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued DoD Directive 5101.17E, Roles and Responsibilities Associated with the Recovery of Chemical Warfare Material, assigning the Secretary of the Army (SA) as DoD’s Executive Agent (EA) for the RCWM Program within the United States.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, & Environment (ASA(IE&E))

The SA further delegated the DoD EA for the RCWM Program responsibilities within the United States to the ASA(IE&E) via a 21 April 2021 memorandum Delegation of Authority for Department of Defense Executive Agent Responsibility for the Recovered Chemical Warfare Material Program Within the United States.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health (DASA (ESOH))

The DASA(ESOH) performs the day-to-day RCWM Program oversight on behalf of the ASA(IE&E). As such, DASA(ESOH), on behalf of the ASA(IE&E):

• Provides senior leadership, policy, guidance, and centralized oversight of the RCWM Program;
• Ensures cross-functional coordination with senior leadership in the Army, other DoD Components, the RCWM Program Execution Manager and, as appropriate, external stakeholders;
• Ensures the cost-effective and efficient use of RCWM Program resources;
• Ensures maintenance of an inventory of sites known or suspected to contain munitions and certain materials of interest or RCWM (including chemical agent identification sets (CAIS)), and other locations of potential interest to the RCWM Program;
• Approves the RCWM Program Annual Work Plan in coordination with the DoD Components’ Environmental Program Managers and RCWM Program Execution Organizations;
• Approves identified requirements for RCWM Program research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) efforts; and
• Provides, through the Headquarters of the Department of the Army and the appropriate chain of command, oversight of the Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Center for Treaty Implementation and Compliance (CTIC) activities to ensure compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC)

The AMC delivers precision and predictive sustainment and materiel readiness to ensure globally dominant land force capabilities. AMC synchronizes and integrates the Army’s total capabilities in support of the Chief of Staff of the Army’s priorities and Combatant Command requirements. As the Army’s Lead Materiel Integrator, AMC manages the global supply chain, synchronizing logistics and sustainment activities across the Army.

Joint Munitions Command (JMC)

A part of AMC, JMC provides management of the conventional weapons stockpile, and, until it was declared destroyed on 07 July 2023, oversaw management of the chemical weapons stockpile. In the context of the RCWM Program, JMC is the parent command for the Chemical Materials Activity (CMA).

U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA)

The Army’s assessment and destruction program execution management functions specific to munitions and certain materials of interest and RCWM are consolidated into a single organization: CMA. CMA was established to manage the chemical weapons stockpiles, assess and destroy RCWM, and manage the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) in the communities around the stockpile sites. CMA successfully destroyed the U.S. former chemical warfare production facilities, the binary chemical weapons inventory, and all declared chemical weapons at seven of the U.S. stockpile sites (about 90 percent of the original declared chemical weapons stockpile).

Today, CMA oversees:

• Safely assessing and transporting munitions and certain materials of interest;
• The safe destruction of RCWM using transportable technologies; and
• The Center for Treaty Implementation and Compliance (CTIC) efforts to ensure compliance with the CWC.

CMA also Provides the National Inventory Control Point for RCWM.

U.S. Army CMA Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD)

Within CMA, RCMD:

• Plans and manages execution of the assessment of munitions and certain materials of interest and the destruction of RCWM in support of explosives or munitions emergency responses, and other environmental responses;
• Coordinates, as required, with the DoD EA for the RCWM Program, the DoD Component Environmental Restoration Program managers, and other RCWM Program Support Function providers;
• Convenes and co-chairs the Material Assessment Review Board (MARB), and maintains a database of information concerning MARB determinations whether munitions and certain materials of interest are RCWM and the associated recommendations for destruction/disposal;
• Acts as the single program wide execution authority (including assignment of duties to service providers) for life-cycle logistics support including:
  • Spare parts and consumable item procurement and storage;
  • Shipment of equipment and explosives to operational deployment locations;
  • Warehouse management control of RCWM Program assets;
  • Maintain property book accountability as hand receipt holder for RCWM Program items/assets;
  • Coordinate, schedule, and track routine preventative and corrective maintenance on RCWM Program equipment;
  • Develop and sustain maintenance documentation and operating procedures for EDS units;
  • Maintain the drawing packages under configuration management for RCWM Program equipment;
  • Manage the training program for operating RCWM Program equipment used in destruction operations;
• Prepares operational deployment documents (e.g., site safety plans, destruction plans, transportation plans, and environmental permitting documentation, After Action Reports, and through CTIC, CWC Destruction Certifications)
• Develops programmatic cost estimates and supports budget submissions for provision of the RCWM Program Support Functions;
• Supports CWC treaty requirements analysis and related reporting;
• Works with DoD Component organizations to identify technology gaps and develop RDT&E requirements; and
• Develops and manages product improvements to existing RCWM Program equipment.

RCWM Program Integrating Office (IO)

Within CMA, the RCWM Program IO:

• Works, on behalf of CMA, DASA(ESOH), RCMD, the RCWM Program Support Function providers, and the supported DoD Components, as the day-to-day integrator of the RCWM Program;
• Assists DASA(ESOH), CMA, and RCMD, as directed, in formulating and disseminating budgets information, guidance, policies, resource allocations, and schedules to ensure RCWM Program Support Functions are available to meet requirements;
• Maintains the CWM Site Inventory of those locations within the United States that are known or suspected to contain munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or CA-contaminated debris or media posing a CA hazard, including those CWM sites that have already reached the “response complete” milestone under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) and DoD Manual 4715.20;
• Drafts the Annual RCWM Program Work Plan; coordinates submissions, policies, reports and schedules, as appropriate, with the DoD Components; assists in resolving comments; and provides recommendations for approval;
• Participates in the DoD planning, programming, budgeting and execution process to help ensure adequate funding required for the RCWM Program Support Functions is identified and requested;
• Monitors the impact on the RCWM Program of external requirements (e.g., support of Combatant Commands, the U.S. Department of State) for supply of the RCWM Program Support Functions;
• Assists the DoD EA for the RCWM Program, other RCWM Program organizations, and the DoD Components in communications with external stakeholders (e.g., federal, state and tribal regulatory agencies, the public);
• Serves as a subject matter expert for the RWCM Program; and
• Facilitates and documents RCWM Program stakeholder review sessions to examine performance against established metrics, evaluates and recommends potential solutions to resolve concerns, and documents achievements.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

At the Headquarters level, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provides overall coordination and quality management of all programmatic activities, development of USACE technical and safety guidance, and designation of National Program Managers.

The USACE is also the lead for the DoD Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Program. Those responsibilities include the conduct of munitions responses involving munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or CA-contaminated debris or media posing a CA hazard. In this way, USACE is both a supporting and supported organization.

As discussed below, other USACE organizations execute certain mission responsibilities for the RCWM Program on behalf of the DoD EA for the RCWM Program and the DoD Components.

Engineering Support Center, Huntsville (USACE HNC)

The USACE HNC supports specialized missions that require expertise in execution of programs that are national or broad in scope. The Center supports tasks not normally accomplished by a Headquarters USACE element; tasks that require a centralized management structure, integrated facilities, or systems that cross geographic division boundaries; and tasks that require commonality, standardization, multiple-site adaption, or technology transfers. Unlike other geographically based USACE organizations, USACE HNC provides specialized support to all the Corps’ divisions and districts throughout the world. Within the USACE HNC are the Ordnance and Explosives (OE) Directorate and the Chemical Warfare Materiel Design Center (CWMDC).

OE Directorate

The OE Directorate is the execution arm for the environmental work executed at USACE HNC. The Directorate’s divisions supporting the RCWM Program include the Military Munitions Design Center and the CWMDC. With respect to the RCWM Program, the OE Directorate capabilities include:

• Planning and executing removal or remedial responses under DERP, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), addressing munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, and/or CA-contaminated debris or media posing a CA hazard;
• Providing security, logistics, and operational support to chemical and/or conventional munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) removal or remedial responses; and
• Contracting support (e.g., development of Scopes of Work (SOW)/Performance Work Statements (PWS), review of vendor proposals; oversight of contract execution).

Chemical Warfare Materiel Design Center (CWMDC)

The CWMDC executes projects involving munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or CA-contaminated debris or media posing a CA hazard per applicable regulations and policies. The CWMDC is the only USACE Design Center authorized to execute such response actions. The CWMDC’s highly trained Chemical and Explosives Safety Specialists:

• Provide technical expertise and oversight to the planning and execution of all phases of RCWM Program recovery;
• Participate in preparation of SOWs/PWSs and review of vendor proposals to ensure that technical requirements are addressed;
• Coordinate reviews of contractor submittals for compliance with contract requirements (e.g., compliance with environmental and explosives safety requirements; contractor deliverables have required certifying statements and/or quality control (QC) signatures);
• Coordinate periodic inspections of contractor compliance with the approved work plan, conduct or support other surveillance activities, support all on-site QA activities, and develop the final Quality Assurance Report;
• Conduct reviews of environmental sampling and chemical analysis data; and
• Review laboratory accreditation for each of the laboratories/methods used to ensure compliance with contract and Quality Assurance Program Plan/Sample Analysis Plan.

U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)

FORSCOM prepares conventional forces to provide a sustained flow of trained and ready land power to Combatant Commanders in defense of the Nation at home and abroad. FORSCOM maintains a cadre of specialists to address various contingencies that may occur, including encounters with CWM.

20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Command

The 20th CBRNE Command has a full-time focus on combating weapons of mass destruction, countering CBRNE threats, and defeating improvised explosive devices.

The 20th CBRNE Command is 75% of the Active Army’s EOD Units. Local EOD units across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are the first responders to an explosives and munitions emergency involving military munitions.

In addition, EOD teams may be requested to support civil authority responses to explosives or munitions emergencies involving explosives or munitions that are not military munitions when such requests are made under DoD Directive 3025.18, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), December 29, 2010, Incorporating Change 2, March 19, 2018.

CBRNE Analytical & Remediation Activity (CARA)

The CARA supports the RCWM Program on a reimbursable basis by providing technical expertise to support explosives or munitions emergency responses that involve munitions and certain materials of interest and supporting the provision of the RCWM Program Support Functions. CARA also co-chairs the MARB.

CARA’s munition assessment personnel are subject matter experts (SME) within the DOD for non-intrusive assessments of munitions and certain materials of interest. CARA is comprised of Remediation Response Sections (RRS) – East (RRE) and West (RRW) – that simultaneously support Homeland Defense and Combatant Commanders. An RRS is composed of two Remediation Response Teams (RRT) which utilize the RCWM Program’s Mobile Munition Assessment System (MMAS). The MMAS provides a mobile analytical platform for non-intrusive analysis of munitions and certain materials of interest. The RRS deploys trained and ready tailored teams to support explosives or munitions emergency responses to address munitions and certain materials of interest. In addition, CARA supports site assessments and remediation, including recovery, transportation, and destruction of RCWM (i.e., single CAIS).

Army Futures Command (AFC)

The AFC, the parent command for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) has three overarching priorities: prioritizing people, designing Army 2040, and delivering Army 2030. The AFC executes six essential functions in pursuit of these priorities: future operational environment, research, concepts, experimentation, requirements, and integration. AFC also advances the Army’s six modernization priorities: long range precision fires, next generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift, air and missile defense, network, and Soldier lethality.

Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)

The DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of AFC. DEVCOM assesses and integrates the future operational environment, emerging threats, and technologies to design, develop, and deliver innovative solutions. The DEVCOM mission is to provide research, engineering, and analytical expertise to deliver capabilities that enable the Army to deter and, when necessary, decisively defeat any adversary now and in the future.

Chemical Biological Center (CBC)

The CBC performs the following functions in support of the RCWM Program:

• Maintaining a qualified team of maintenance technicians to perform preventative and corrective maintenance on EDS units, Interim Holding Facilities (IHFs), and other systems and related support equipment necessary to the RCWM Program;
• In support of planning and preparation for testing and field operations, providing technical support in the areas of CA monitoring, environmental quality, filtration/ventilation, industrial hygiene, safety, sampling and analysis, and waste disposal;
• Managing and executing RDT&E funds allocated to support the RCWM Program validated material development requirements; and
• As needed, supporting field deployments by providing the following functions on a cost reimbursable basis:
  • Setup, operate, and maintain EDS and supporting equipment;
  • On-site analytical laboratory operations, CA monitoring, environmental compliance, and safety support;
  • Provision of specialized equipment required to support operations, beyond the equipment managed by the RCWM Program;
  • Waste characterization, management, storage, transportation, and disposal;
  • Testing, certification, and operation of filtration/ventilation equipment; and
  • In support of test and evaluation functions related to RCWM Program assets (e.g., upgrades to existing EDS, RDTE on new destruction systems), provides chemical agent synthesis and simulant management.

DEVCOM Historical Office

The DEVCOM Historical Office:

• Provides subject matter expertise related to the history of the U.S. chemical warfare program;
• Conducts or oversees archival research for the RCWM Program, as required;
• Acquires and preserves knowledge about the U.S. chemical warfare program by ensuring that documents, oral interviews, visual images, and other source materials pertaining to historically significant developments and events are placed in the historical research collection;
• Advances knowledge through research to provide historical perspective and support to decision-making, military problem-solving, and materiel research and development; and
• Disseminates the collected knowledge through printed, electronic, and multimedia formats that focus on historical themes and events.

DoD Component Defense Environmental Restoration Programs (DERP)

Each DoD Component maintains an Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) under DERP. These programs implement the requirements under 10 United States Code (U.S.C.), CHAPTER 160—Environmental Restoration (sections 2700-2711) and the delegated Presidential authorities in sections 9601-9675 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).

The DoD Components execute munitions responses per CERCLA and the National Contingency Plan. Most responses to address military munitions, including munitions and certain materials of interest, RCWM, or CA-contaminated debris or media that pose a CA hazard, fall under DoD’s Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) within the DERP. The RCWM Program supports the DoD Services in meeting their ERP obligations though provision of the RCWM Program Support Functions.

DoD Manual 4715.20, Defense Environmental Restoration Program provides additional information and DoD policies governing DERP.