DESTRUCTION OF EXISTING STOCKPILE OF LETHAL CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS.

SEC. 142. DESTRUCTION OF EXISTING STOCKPILE OF LETHAL CHEMICAL AGENTS AND MUNITIONS. Section 152 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 104–106; 110 Stat. 214; 50 U.S.C. 1521 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: “(e) Assessment of Alternative Technologies for Demilitarization of Assembled Chemical Munitions.— (1) In addition to the assessment required by subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall conduct an assessment of the chemical demilitarization program for destruction of assembled chemical munitions and of the alternative demilitarization technologies and processes (other than incineration) that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with these munitions, while ensuring maximum protection for the general public, the personnel involved in the demilitarization program, and the environment. The measures considered shall be limited to those that would minimize the risk to the public and reduce the total cost of the chemical agents and munitions destruction program. The assessment shall be conducted without regard to any limitation that would otherwise apply to the conduct of such assessment under any provision of law. “(2) The assessment shall be conducted in coordination with the National Research Council. “(3) Among the alternatives, the assessment shall include a determination of the cost of incineration of the current chemical munitions stockpile by building incinerators at each existing facility compared to the proposed cost of dismantling those same munitions, neutralizing them at each storage site (other than Tooele Army Depot or Johnston Atoll), and transporting the neutralized remains and all munitions parts to a treatment, storage, and disposal facility within the United States that has the necessary environmental permits to undertake incineration of the material. “(4) Based on the results of the assessment, the Secretary shall develop appropriate recommendations for revision of the chemical demilitarization program. “(5) Not later than December 31, 1997, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the assessment conducted in accordance with paragraph (1) and any recommendations for 110 STAT. 2449revision of the chemical demilitarization program, including the continued development of alternative demilitarization technologies and processes other than incineration that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with these assembled chemical munitions and the chemical munitions demilitarization sites for which the selected technologies should be developed. “(f) Pilot Program for Demilitarization of Chemical Agents for Assembled Munitions.— (1) If the Secretary of Defense makes a decision to continue the development of an alternative demilitarization technology or process (other than incineration) that could be used for the destruction of the lethal chemical agents that are associated with assembled chemical munitions, $25,000,000 shall be available from the funds authorized to be appropriated in section 107 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 for the chemical agents and munitions destruction program, in order to initiate a pilot program using the selected alternative technology or process for the destruction of chemical agents that are stored at these sites. “(2) Not less than 30 days before using funds to initiate the pilot program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit notice in writing to Congress of the Secretary’s intent to do so. “(3) The pilot program shall be conducted at the selected chemical agent and munitions stockpile storage site for which the alternative technology or process is recommended.”.