The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) works closely with communities around the Nation’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles. Since the program began in 1988, state and local emergency management officials have teamed with the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve their ability to protect you. This partnership has helped these communities by enhancing emergency plans and providing chemical accident response equipment and warning systems for emergencies. Depending on the location of the community, such emergencies may include tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, hazardous material spills or releases and transportation and industrial accidents.
Communities are better prepared because of CSEPP
Chemical stockpile emergency preparedness exercises are held in communities surrounding the two remaining chemical weapons stockpiles at Blue Grass Chemical Depot, Kentucky, and Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, each year. The communities and states join the Army and FEMA to practice keeping the public safe in the unlikely event of a chemical stockpile accident. CSEPP training gives emergency responders – such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical teams – skills and knowledge they can use every day.
Why is this emergency preparedness effort needed?
The Army has safely stored this country’s chemical agents since the time of World Wars I and II. In 1985, Congress ordered the Army to destroy the stockpiles and to provide “maximum protection” to the public who live and work in communities near the stockpiles now and until the chemical agents are eliminated. The congressional mandate came about for a number of reasons, including:
Who’s involved in this emergency preparedness program?
Local and state emergency services, as well as public health, environmental, fire and rescue, law enforcement and medical services agencies have major roles, along with elected and appointed officials. The Army, as custodian of the stockpiles, and FEMA, which has long-standing experience in preparing for and dealing with all kinds of emergencies, provide funding, training, guidance and technical support and expertise. Other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also lend their expertise in specific areas of the program. The program combines the efforts of local, state and federal agencies and jurisdictions. Community and public participation in and knowledge of the program are essential to its success.
What has this program accomplished?
Communities and states have reaped the benefits in improved emergency facilities, equipment, training and planning. Many of these enhancements increase their capabilities to deal with more likely emergencies such as transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, floods and fires, in addition to a chemical stockpile emergency. 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.
The mountain has been an element that has graced many of the past depot emblems, representing Pike’s Peak.
The Pershing Missile in the center represents one of the most prominent missions of the depot in the 1980s.
The hawk represents native depot wildlife, the present and future mission of the environmental programs, and was also the name of one of the missile systems supplied by the depot during its missile mission in the 1950s and 60s.
The branch insignia of both the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Ordnance Corps represent the depot’s command structure through its history as both an ordnance and a chemical depot.
The colors cobalt blue and yellow gold are representative of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. “Pueblo Depot” is representative of the installation throughout its history. “1942” is the date of establishment. “Safety” and “Service” capture the continued and historical depot missions.
The motto translates to “A Common Good.”
The rising sun denotes the dawning of a new day without chemical weapons and the organization’s mission to safely destroy chemical weapons stockpile, thus changing the future of modern warfare.
The three stalks of wheat symbolize the harvest of hope that has been secured through industry, cultivation and abundance. It also refers to the unit’s chemical/biological, smoke/obscurant and support to Homeland security industrial base missions at Pine Bluff Arsenal.
The double-headed eagle suggests the two CMA methods for stockpile chemical weapons disposal, incineration and neutralization. These methods’ roots are traced back to Project Eagle I (incinerating of mustard agents) and Eagle II (neutralizing nerve agents).
The olive branch signifies peace and the Activity’s commitment to abide by the stipulations of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty and assisting other nations.
The octagon alludes to the eight original chemical weapons stockpile storage sites in the United States.