§1512. Transportation, open air testing, and disposal; Presidential determination; report to Congress; notice to Congress and State Governors

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or any other Act may be used for the transportation of any lethal chemical or any biological warfare agent to or from any military installation in the United States, or the open air testing of any such agent within the United States, or the disposal of any such agent within the United States until the following procedures have been implemented:

(1) the Secretary of Defense (hereafter referred to in this section ¹ [50 U.S.C. 1512, 1513–1515, 1517] as the "Secretary") has determined that the transportation or testing proposed to be made is necessary in the interests of national security;

(2) the Secretary has brought the particulars of the proposed transportation, testing, or disposal to the attention of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who in turn may direct the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service and other qualified persons to review such particulars with respect to any hazards to public health and safety which such transportation, testing, or disposal may pose and to recommend what precautionary measures are necessary to protect the public health and safety;

(3) the Secretary has implemented any precautionary measures recommended in accordance with paragraph (2) above (including, where practicable, the detoxification of any such agent, if such agent is to be transported to or from a military installation for disposal): Provided, however, That in the event the Secretary finds the recommendation submitted by the Surgeon General would have the effect of preventing the proposed transportation, testing, or disposal, the President may determine that overriding considerations of national security require such transportation, testing, or disposal be conducted. Any transportation, testing, or disposal conducted pursuant to such a Presidential determination shall be carried out in the safest practicable manner, and the President shall report his determination and an explanation thereof to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as far in advance as practicable; and

(4) the Secretary has provided notification that the transportation, testing, or disposal will take place, except where a Presidential determination has been made: (A) to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least 10 days before any such transportation will be commenced and at least 30 days before any such testing or disposal will be commenced; (B) to the Governor of any State through which such agents will be transported, such notification to be provided appropriately in advance of any such transportation.

( Pub. L. 91–121, title IV, §409(b), Nov. 19, 1969, 83 Stat. 209 ; Pub. L. 91–441, title V, §506(b)(1), Oct. 7, 1970, 84 Stat. 912 ; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in introductory provisions, means Pub. L. 91–121, Nov. 19, 1969, 83 Stat. 204 . Provisions authorizing the appropriation of funds are not classified to the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

This section, referred to in par. (1), means section 409 of Pub. L. 91–121. Subsecs. (b), (c) to (e), and (g) of section 409 of Pub. L. 91–121 are classified to sections 1512, 1513 to 1515, and 1517 of this title, respectively. Section 409(a) of Pub. L. 91–121 was classified to section 1511 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title X, §1061(k), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 443 . Section 409(f) of Pub. L. 91–121 was classified to section 1516 of this title, prior to being eliminated upon the enactment of similar provisions by section 506(a) of Pub. L. 91–441.

Amendments

1970-Pub. L. 91–441 inserted reference to the disposal of lethal chemical or biological warfare agents in the United States.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"Secretary of Health and Human Services" substituted for "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare" in par. (2), pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Riot Control Agents

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title XII, §1232, Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3468 , provided that:

"(a) Restatement of Policy.-It is the policy of the United States that riot control agents are not chemical weapons and that the President may authorize their use as legitimate, legal, and non-lethal alternatives to the use of force that, as provided in Executive Order No. 11850 (40 Fed. Reg. 16187) [set out below] and consistent with the resolution of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, may be employed by members of the Armed Forces in war in defensive military modes to save lives, including the illustrative purposes cited in Executive Order No. 11850.

"(b) Report Required.-

"(1) In general.-Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 6, 2006], the President shall submit to Congress a report on the use of riot control agents by members of the Armed Forces.

"(2) Content.-The report required by paragraph (1) shall include-

"(A) a description of all regulations, doctrines, training materials, and any other information related to the use of riot control agents by members of the Armed Forces;

"(B) a description of how the material described in subparagraph (A) is consistent with United States policy on the use of riot control agents;

"(C) a description of the availability of riot control agents, and the means to use them, to members of the Armed Forces, including members of the Armed Forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan;

"(D) a description of the frequency and circumstances of the use of riot control agents by members of the Armed Forces since January 1, 1992, and a summary of views held by commanders of United States combatant commands as to the utility of the use of riot control agents by members of the Armed Forces when compared with alternatives;

"(E) a general description of steps taken or planned to be taken by the Department of Defense to clarify the circumstances under which riot control agents may be used by members of the Armed Forces; and

"(F) a brief explanation of the continuing validity of Executive Order No. 11850 [set out below] under United States law.

"(3) Form.-The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

"(c) Definitions.-In this section:

"(1) Chemical weapons convention.-The term 'Chemical Weapons Convention' means the Convention on the Prohibitions of Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, with annexes, done at Paris, January 13, 1993, and entered into force April 29, 1997 (T. Doc. 103–21).

"(2) Resolution of ratification of the chemical weapons convention.-The term 'resolution of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention' means S. Res. 75, 105th Congress, agreed to April 24, 1997, advising and consenting to the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention."

Chemical Munitions Transportation From Okinawa to the United States

Pub. L. 91–672, §13, Jan. 12, 1971, 84 Stat. 2055 , directed that no authorized funds could be used to transport chemical munitions from Okinawa to the United States, but could be used for detoxification or destruction of these munitions only outside the United States.

Definition of "United States"

For definition of "United States" as used in this section, see section 1514 of this title.

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 11850. Renunciation of Certain Uses in War of Chemical Herbicides and Riot Control Agents

Ex. Ord. No. 11850, Apr. 8, 1975, 40 F.R. 16187, provided:

The United States renounces, as a matter of national policy, first use of herbicides in war except use, under regulations applicable to their domestic use, for control of vegetation within U.S. bases and installations or around their immediate defensive perimeters, and first use of riot control agents in war except in defensive military modes to save lives such as:

(a) Use of riot control agents in riot control situations in areas under direct and distinct U.S. military control, to include controlling rioting prisoners of war.

(b) Use of riot control agents in situations in which civilians are used to mask or screen attacks and civilian casualties can be reduced or avoided.

(c) Use of riot control agents in rescue missions in remotely isolated areas, of downed aircrews and passengers, and escaping prisoners.

(d) Use of riot control agents in rear echelon areas outside the zone of immediate combat to protect convoys from civil disturbances, terrorists and paramilitary organizations.

I have determined that the provisions and procedures prescribed by this Order are necessary to ensure proper implementation and observance of such national policy.

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America by the Constitution and laws of the United States and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. The Secretary of Defense shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the use by the Armed Forces of the United States of any riot control agents and chemical herbicides in war is prohibited unless such use has Presidential approval, in advance.

Sec. 2. The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe the rules and regulations he deems necessary to ensure that the national policy herein announced shall be observed by the Armed Forces of the United States.

Gerald R. Ford.      

¹ See References in Text note below.