In 1985, Congress ordered the Army to destroy the Nation’s chemical weapons stockpiles and to provide “maximum protection” to the public who live and work in and near the stockpile communities until the chemical agents are eliminated. The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program was implemented to work closely with communities surrounding the eight chemical weapons stockpiles in the continental United States through final stockpile destruction and site closure.
In 2023, the Department of Defense completed stockpile destruction at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky, and Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, the Nation’s final two stockpiles. Colorado’s CSEPP closed in February 2024. CSEPP continues until the surety mission is complete, meaning the agent-contaminated containerized rocket warheads at Blue Grass Army Depot are destroyed. Kentucky counties involved in CSEPP have been actively working toward CSEPP closeout, with Madison County – where the depot is located – being the final location to complete CSEPP closeout.
Communities are better prepared because of CSEPP
CSEPP conducted annual exercises in the stockpile communities. Local and state emergency services, public health, environmental, fire and rescue, law enforcement, medical services, and elected and appointed officials teamed with the Army and FEMA in the annual training to keep the public safe in the unlikely event of a chemical stockpile accident. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also lent their expertise to the program.
The former stockpile communities will continue to reap the benefits of improved emergency facilities, equipment, training and planning. These enhancements increased their capabilities to deal with more likely emergencies such as transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, severe weather, floods, and fires. Program enhancements include new command and public/media information facilities, communications equipment, sirens and tone-alert radios to warn and instruct the public, computerized planning and accident assessment tools, automated on-post and off-post communication systems and improved emergency personnel training.
