Proposal would expand defense testing at Dugway for WMDs

by Michael Rigert
Staff Writer

A new final environmental report from the Department of the Army is one of the final steps in a process that will likely result in the significant expansion of biological and chemical defense testing and counterterrorism training activities against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) at Dugway Proving Ground.

Released Oct. 14, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for future programs at Dugway also includes public comments on the proposed expansion of mission activities gathered during the draft phase of the document. Proposed activities are expected to be implemented over the next seven years. 

According to the actions proposed in the final report, biological defense testing, “to counter the proliferation of biological weapons and protect against terrorist threat, establishing a solid national defense against biological attack,” would dramatically increase from current levels.

“Overall, the biological defense testing program would more than double as measured by the number of tests,” the report states. “Biological agent and stimulant use would also show substantial increases with the Proposed Action.”
New biological testing would include both the outdoor use of simulants and indoor testing with live pathogens at the Lothar Salomon Life Sciences Test Facility, which recently added four modular biological labs to its operations. The trailer-like labs (Biological Safety Level 2 and 3 certified) were added earlier this year as a “time- and cost-saving measure” to accommodate increased workload demands.

The final EIS also proposes the construction of a “permanent annex” to the Salomon test facility “to house test research, design, analysis, and a report writing area for scientists,” in addition to other biological laboratory operations. 

Moreover Dugway’s future program proposal would also nearly double its current chemical defense testing activities. Included would be new test types and additional outdoor detector and decontamination testing.

“As the nation’s only chemical agent defense proving ground, (Dugway Proving Ground) is the primary location for testing of chemical defense equipment for the (Department of Defense),” the report states. “Based on concerns about potential use of chemical agents in the future, the U.S. is strengthening its chemical agent defense program. As with biological defense testing measures, the Army has been given the lead among armed services for testing and evaluation related to chemical agent defense.”

A major new mission — counterterrorism training — would be added to Dugway operations, as proposed in the environmental statement. Such activities could increase by 97 percent.

“(Dugway’s) expertise in chemical and biological defense testing has led to a relatively new mission component, training military and civilian emergency personnel in responding to terrorist events involving chemical or biological agents,” the executive summary of the document states.

Counterterrorism operations at Dugway would involve “crisis response”: the training for the discovery of terrorist perpetrators before the release of any WMDs. A second component, “consequence management,” would involve training to prepare for the after effects of an actual terrorist attack.

The final EIS says that counterterrorism training would involve first responders, active and reserve component military units, and law enforcement through classroom activities, field training and simulations.

Other Dugway operations including ground training, conventional munitions and miscellaneous testing would also be increased under the proposal.

Though the proposed expansion activities appear to meet environmental standards, according to draft and final EIS documents, not everyone is pleased with Dugway’s proposal to increase its testing operations.

Steve Erickson, director of Citizens Education Project, has repeatedly expressed his organization’s objections to the increase of biological and chemical testing at Dugway Proving Ground. He specifically has criticized the vague nature of the EIS document and asked the Army to make a better case for why the expanded operations are necessary.

Most recently, Erickson objected to Dugway’s speedy addition of the four modular biological labs.

“What’s the impending need? Why the rush? Is this necessary?” he asked rhetorically in February. “I don’t know if (Dugway Proving Ground) has made its case. I don’t think the EIS makes the case.”

Erickson’s greatest concern is what he perceives as an abysmal absence of accountability by state officials and entities regarding the expansion of testing at Dugway. He calls for improved public information from state agencies and additional public discourse regarding the impact such federal programs have on Utah.

“The state has essentially given permission to (Dugway Proving Ground) to do what Dugway does,” Erickson said. “The lack of oversight is troubling.”

The new biological labs may or may not be necessary, he said, however he believes it would be in Dugway Proving Ground’s best interest to demonstrate greater transparency and create greater public awareness surrounding its proposed expansion operations.

“It would increase their credibility and is certainly in the interest of the state of Utah,” Erickson said. 

Paula Nicholson, Dugway spokeswoman, said there have been no significant changes to the EIS between its draft and final forms in regards to the nature, number or type of proposed expansion activities.

A decision from the Department of Defense on the new testing and training proposed in the final EIS-a record of decision-will come at the earliest on Nov. 15, the end of a mandatory 30-day waiting period required by Environmental Protection Agency notice of availability mandates.

“The EIS was undertaken to look forward seven years,” Nicholson said. “However implementation of any particular action mentioned in the EIS must await planning and funding, which are beyond the control of Dugway.”

For more information about the Final EIS or to request a copy of the report, contact Dugway Proving Ground’s public affairs office at (435) 831-3409 or by e-mail at dp-pa@dpg.army.mil.

e-mail: mrigert@tooeletranscript.com