The directive was signed and implemented by William H. Taft IV, who served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan. Taft, a prominent figure in defense and legal circles, was known for his role in shaping U.S. military policy during the Cold War era. His tenure included significant contributions to the strategic doctrines that governed the use of weapons of mass destruction.

According to the document release, which took more than four years to get completed, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) initially had no objections to releasing the directive in full. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff intervened, resulting in specific portions being redacted. The redactions were made under Executive Order 13526, 3.3(b)(5), which protects information that could potentially reveal active U.S. military war plans or operational elements of past plans that remain relevant.

The release of this document provides insight into U.S. chemical weapons policy during a critical period in the late 20th century. The directive explicitly details the U.S. strategy to deter the use of chemical, toxin, and biological weapons by maintaining military capabilities to retaliate effectively. It states, “The U.S. reservation to the Geneva Protocol of 1925… allows for retaliation with chemical weapons against a violator if chemical, toxin, or biological weapons are used against U.S. allies even if U.S. forces are not directly attacked.”

The directive also outlines the procedures for the deployment and employment of chemical weapons, emphasizing the importance of maintaining readiness and survivability of chemical-capable forces. For instance, it asserts that “Chemical weapons shall be employed only against suitable tactical targets of military value,” and underscores that the use of such weapons in response to enemy chemical attacks requires the approval of the President of the United States.

The redacted portions also would have seemed to have added more important context when it comes to the use of chemical weapons. For example:

In this particular portion above, you can see that the redacted portions outline the intended damage caused by a retaliatory chemical weapon strike. The paragraph later talks about the want to inflict “at least” but the next portion is redacted.

Another section talks about the “maximum effectiveness” of chemical capabilities, but the opening remarks are fully redacted.

The MDR process, which led to the release of this document, allows for the declassification of government records in response to a specific request. The Black Vault utilized this process to obtain the directive, shedding light on a piece of Cold War history that had remained hidden for decades.

The document is available below for download.

###

Document Archive

 Release of the 1987 DoD Directive S-3145.2: Chemical Weapons Policy [10 Pages, 2MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [2.03 MB]

The post Release of the 1987 DoD Directive S-3145.2: Chemical Weapons Policy first appeared on The Black Vault.

BZ is a white crystalline powder that is odorless and tasteless. It can be disseminated as an aerosol or in liquid form. The agent works by blocking the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain. Specifically, BZ acts as an antagonist at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, leading to a disruption of various bodily functions and cognitive processes.

Exposure to BZ can result in a range of symptoms, typically appearing within 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure and lasting for up to several days. Common symptoms include:

Cognitive Impairment: Severe confusion, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating.
Hallucinations: Visual and auditory hallucinations are common, often vivid and disturbing.
Physical Effects: Dilated pupils, dry mouth, elevated body temperature, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), and flushed skin.
Behavioral Changes: Agitation, aggressive behavior, and inability to perform coordinated tasks.

Research into BZ began in the 1950s, with the United States and several other countries exploring its potential as a non-lethal incapacitating agent. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union conducted extensive research into BZ and similar compounds, considering their use in various tactical scenarios.

BZ was considered for use in a range of military operations, including:

Crowd Control: To incapacitate large groups of people without causing permanent injury.
Hostage Rescue: To subdue captors and rescue hostages with minimal risk of death.
Battlefield Scenarios: To disable enemy troops, making them unable to fight or operate equipment effectively.

The U.S. military conducted numerous tests involving BZ, often using volunteer soldiers to study its effects and potential applications. The most notable testing program was conducted at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland, where service members were exposed to various chemical agents, including BZ. These tests raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding informed consent and the long-term health effects on participants.

Today, BZ is considered a controlled substance under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits its use in warfare. The research and development of BZ as a weapon have largely ceased, and existing stockpiles have been destroyed or repurposed for non-military research. However, BZ remains a topic of interest in toxicology and pharmacology due to its unique effects on the human body.

Document Archive

BZ Psychochemical War Agents – Russ Kick Collection (FOIA release with two reports) – [31 Pages, 5.3MB]

Clinical and Military Medical Aspects of Psychopoisons – Russ Kick Collection (FOIA release with two reports) – [31 Pages, 5.3MB]

Determination of Trace Quantities of BZ (3-Quinuclidinyl Benzilate) in Air and Water [27 Pages]

Evaluation of Analytical Methods of the Determination of BZ [54 Pages]

Test Reports for Agent BZ Detonation Tests [134 Pages]

Toxicological studies on Effects of BZ on animals, and also Supercritical fluid application for the analysis of Lewisite (L) and 3-Quinuclidinyl Benzilate (BZ) [27 Pages]

The post Biological Agent: BZ first appeared on The Black Vault.

It begins with a discussion on bacterial pathogens such as anthrax, highlighting its mild initial symptoms which quickly escalate to severe respiratory distress, fever, and shock, often leading to death. The document also touches on the limited natural occurrence of inhalation anthrax, its association with wool or leather factories, and the effectiveness of antibiotics and vaccination in prevention and treatment.

The tutorial then delves into other bacterial agents like plague and tularemia, explaining their natural transmission methods, the rapid and contagious nature of pneumonic plague, and the challenges in treating these diseases. The section on viruses details their characteristics, transmission modes, and the specific threats posed by viruses like Marburg, Ebola, and smallpox. It emphasizes the historical concern over smallpox epidemics, the eradication efforts by the World Health Organization, and the continued development of smallpox as a potential biological weapon by some countries.

The document also addresses toxins, defining them as poisonous substances derived from living organisms and distinguishing them from chemical warfare agents. It notes the variability in the effects and onset times of different toxins, as well as the challenges in developing medical defenses against some viral agents that are potential biological weapons.

Finally, the tutorial covers delivery systems and weapons for biological agents, highlighting their potential for causing widespread attrition of enemy personnel over large geographic areas. It lists various infectious organisms as possible biological warfare agents and their likely methods of production, including fermentation, tissue/cell culture, and chicken eggs. The document underscores the strategic and tactical utility of different biological agents, such as anthrax and tularemia for large-scale impact, and toxins like botulinum for more localized or terrorist use.

Document Archive

Biological Warfare Concepts: A Tutorial, July 1994 [7 Pages, 1.97MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [1.98 MB]

The post Biological Warfare Concepts: A Tutorial, July 1994 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Document Archive

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Survivability Security Classification Guide (SCG) – February 17, 2017 [20 Pages, 0.1MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [766.52 KB]

The post Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Survivability Security Classification Guide (SCG) – February 17, 2017 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Project Coast was a top-secret chemical and biological weapons (CBW) program instituted by the South African government during the apartheid era. Project Coast was the successor to a limited post-war CBW program which mainly produced the lethal agents CX powder and mustard gas; as well as non-lethal tear gas for riot control purposes.  Project Coast was headed by Wouter Basson, a cardiologist who was the personal physician of the then South African Prime Minister PW Botha.

Declassified Documents

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

FOIA Response Indicated 21 Pages Completely Exempt [2 Pages, 1MB]

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 

 Prospects for Special Weapons Proliferation and Control, July 1991 [42 Pages, 1.7MB]

 Chemical Weapons: Use in Angola? November 1989 [15 Pages, 0.4MB] – This paper provides an Intelligence Community coordinated assessment regarding the reported use of chemical weapons in Angola. There is Intelligence Community agreement that technical public reports submitted to the US Government as
proof of CW use in Angola contain no substantive evidence to indicate the use of lethal CW agents in Angola.

The post Project Coast – 1980s Chemical and Biological Weapons (CBW) Program by South African Government first appeared on The Black Vault.

Several areas of rapid technical innovation, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and neuroscience, offer great promise for human health and welfare but could also be exploited for the development and production of biological or chemical weapons. Such technologies pose a ‘dual-use dilemma’ because it is difficult to prevent misuse without foregoing beneficial applications. Indeed, in many cases the technologies that can do the most good are also capable of the greatest harm. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, several developments in the life sciences have raised the political salience and urgency of the dual-use issue. One example is the synthesis from scratch of several pathogenic viruses, including the causative agents of polio, SARS, and the 1918 pandemic strain of influenza.

Document Archive

Double-Edged Innovations: Preventing the Misuse of Emerging Biological/Chemical Technologies, 2010 [345 Pages, 2.5MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [2.67 MB]

The post Double-Edged Innovations: Preventing the Misuse of Emerging Biological/Chemical Technologies, 2010 first appeared on The Black Vault.

The breakfast cereal manufacturer General Mills was the nation’s foremost developer of Biological Weapons of Mass Destruction in the early 1960s.

The Department of Defense has released small portions of several reports detailing the work in biological warfare performed by the Minneapolis-based company following a lengthy declassification review.

During World War 2, American consumer products companies were expected to come to the aid of their nation’s defense needs. After the war, many of these companies established small but lucrative defense contracting divisions.

General Mills set up a research division to tap into the long experience the company had in grinding or milling of fine particles, and in fabricating large thin films used for balloons, as well as making intricate electronics assemblies. The company made thousands of balloon systems for high altitude
reconnaissance purposes in a series of programs during the 1950s. High altitude balloons were used for various purposes, including taking photos of the Soviet Union and also to collect air samples to detect radioactive isotopes caused by nuclear weapons tests.

The success of the high altitude reconnaissance balloons suggested to the military possible use as a way to disseminate biological agents in remote locations. One of the problems with biological agents is that they can blow back to friendly troops. Dissemination by balloon offers a way to release these agents deep within enemy territory without requiring an aircraft overflight.

The Gopher mid-air recoverable reconnaissance balloon program was renamed Grandson in June 1953, and became ready for operational use after test flights in early 1954. A variant of Grandson, named WS-124A (Weapons System 124A), also called FLYING CLOUD, was designed and flight tested for the possibility of special warfare applications, but that effort was discontinued in late 1955. In reference books, WS-124A is listed as a Weather Reconnaissance Project, which was a cover story used to shield the aerial biological weapons program.

References to difficulties in milling, or grinding, of fine particles have surfaced recently in discussions concerning the anthrax sent to Congress through the mail. The fineness of the particles, considered critical in making the material easily dispersed by air, is a measure of the
technological sophistication of the anthrax manufacturer. Other types of biological agents also require fine grinding for maximum lethality.

George Whitnah, the project manager, died several years ago; his widow said that her husband and his colleagues had expressed some reservations about the work, but felt it was necessary because it was known that the Russians were working in similar directions. She said: “it was a different era back then”.

A company spokesperson disclaimed any knowledge of the bio-weapons program, and said that the defense unit was sold to Raytheon several years ago, taking with them any records from that era.

Below, you will find many of the reports that have now been declassified and released to The Black Vault.

Document Archive

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Progress rept. 3 Jun-3 Sep 1960 [111 Pages, 4.7MB] – The problems of feeding and handling finely divided solid agents were studied along with applications of feeding devices such as screw feeders, piston feeders and pneumatic feeders. Progress was made in preparing for wind tunnel experiments on dissemination and deagglomeration and in the design of a special test section for these experiments. An isokinetic sampling probe was also designed. Progress on a study of the characteristics of finely divided materials is presented. This work includes literature search, theoretical analyses and experiments. A design study was initiated on an external aircraft store for liquid agent dissemination. Preliminary findings of an operational analysis to determine optimum design flow rates for several agents are presented and a summary is given of studies relating to specific aircraft store design problems.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 2, 4 Sep-4 Dec 1960 [111 Pages, 5.22MB] – Research on dissemination of solid and liquid BW agents was directed towards the development of weapon systems for the dissemination of these agents as a line source from high speed low-flying manned and unmanned aircraft. The results of experiments on feeding of finely divided solid materials with helical screws and piston devices are presented. Experiments on dissemination and deagglomeration are described including preliminary investigations of aerosol generation by erosion and also with a liquid CO2 system. Deagglomeration experiments were in a high-subsonic wind tunnel. Characteristics of finely divided materials are given. Aerodynamic data for wingmounted external stores and the effects of the external geometry and the pylon design on the incremental drag coefficients are discussed.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 3, 4 Dec 1960-4 Mar 1961 [113 Pages, 5.2MB] – Progress is reported on an experimental study of the effect of exposure to heated air streams on the viability of Sm aerosols. Results from experiments on the characteristics of powders are presented including investigations of frictional forces between powders and channel walls and dynamic angle of repose of Sm powder. Theoretical studies of load transmission in particulate materials and several specific cases of force transmission were analyzed. The properties of slurries, which include the thermal properties of egg slurry samples, were determined. Investigations were also made of the properties of slurries of Sm in a fluorochemical liquid. Wind tunnel investigations of the use of slip stream energy to deagglomerate finely divided solid materials progressed. Experimental results on the performance of a high velocity sampling probe and of an analysis of the influence of the effective agent filling density on the aerodynamic drag of solid agent disseminating stores are presented.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 4, 4 Mar-4 Jun 1961 [113 Pages, 15.2MB] – The viability of Sm subjected to air streams simulating a jet engine exhaust was radically affected. Compaction tests on Sm showed some viability reduction. Measurements were made of the coefficient of friction and the bulk density of various powders. A theoretical analysis of the force required to lift a disk embedded in a dilatant material was conducted. Thermal conductivity and viscosity measurements of egg slurries were carried out. Rheological properties of Sm slurries were investigated. Boundary layer studies are reported which indicated that wind tunnel tests on deagglomeration are slightly conservative as compared to actual flight conditions. High-speed motion pictures give an insight into the breakup of Sm agglomerates. Deagglomeration to primary particles of Sm was observed. An investigation of the store-carrying capacities of an unmanned aircraft and a preliminary design of a liquid disseminating unit is included.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 5, 4 Jun-4 Sep 1961 [137 Pages, 6.4MB] – Theoretical studies of the mechanics of particulate materials resulted in equations for predicting the force required to move a compressed plug of powder in a cylinder; theoretical limits on a resistance parameter are given. Wind tunnel studies of deagglomeration of finely divided compacted solids are covered. Particle size data and values for the frequency of occurrence of agglomerates, determined microscopically, are given. A design concept for the first dry-agent disseminating store to be designed and fabricated on this program is discussed. Studies of the jet-plume problem as it relates to loss of viability of biological aerosols are described. Experimental data on viability loss and a theoretical analysis of the fluid mixing problem are reported. Experimental results from a study of the rheological behavior of Sm slurries made with a fluorocarbon liquid are reported and a conclusion on the feasibility of this approach for disseminating solids is given.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 6, 4 Sep-4 Dec 1961 [123 Pages, 5.9MB] – Investigation on the dissemination of solid BW agents and the effort devoted to the design and fabrication of a liquid BW agent disseminating store for use as a weapon on high speed, lowflying aircraft is studied. The theoretical studies of powder mechanics are outlined. The distribution of energy during the process of compaction of a finely divided solid is discussed. Experimental measurements of the shear strength of powders are reported. The loss of viability produced by exposing dry biological aerosols to heated airstreams is presented. The simulants Bg and Sm were exposed to temperatures in the range of 30 to 130 C. Experimental studies of deagglomeration by slipstream energy are reported. The current emphasis is on assessment of the loss in effectiveness due to agglomeration. Feeding systems for dry agents is reported. A full-scale laboratory model of the feeding system for an airborne disseminator is described, and future test plans are outlined.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 7, 4 Dec 1961-4 Mar 1962 [123 Pages, 5.08MB] – Progress on the theoretical and experimental studies of powder mechanics is reported. The design and fabrication of a new aerosol chamber, equipped with light-scattering instrumentation is described. This chamber will permit studies of aerosol stability. The aerosol generation and sampling apparatus are discussed. Studies of the viability of Sm and Bg, in the bulk and aerosol forms, are presented. These are investigations of the effects of elevated temperature and additives. Wind tunnel studies of dissemination and deagglomeration are discussed. The results of further studies of small-scale agglomerates and a description of a new high-flow-rate disseminator model are given. New experimental work on metering and conveying dry powders is described and data are given on the performance of a fullscale laboratory feeding model. The results of computer studies dealing with the line-source dissemination of the agent UL-2 are given. The status of work on the design and fabrication of a liquid-agent airborne disseminator is reported.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 8, 4 Mar-4 Jun 1962 [235 Pages, 10.3MB] – This Eighth Quarterly Progress Report covers the work accomplished during the last reporting period on research and development related to the dissemination of BW agents. The progress in theoretical and experimental studies of the mechanics of dry powders is reported. This work continues to produce basic information which is being applied in the design and development of an airborne disseminator. Operation of the aerophilometer, with aerosols of dry powders, for the purpose of studying experimental techniques and determining operating parameters is discussed. This preliminary work is essential to carrying out the program on stability properties of aerosols. Data on the effects of compaction and additives on the viability of Sm powder are presented. The tests at Fort Detrick using the GMI-3 fixture and wind tunnel to generate aerosols in the 40-foot test sphere are described. Results with the full-scale experimental equipment for feeding and metering compacted dry powders are reported. The preliminary design of an airborne dry BW agent disseminating store is presented and described. Successful flight tests of the liquid BW agent disseminating store on an A4D-1 airplane are discussed.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progrss rept. no. 9, 4 Jun-4 Sep 1962 [120 Pages, 5.2MB] – Theoretical and experimental results relative to the studies of the mechanics of dry powders are presented for: (1) the applied stresses and energies required for the compaction of powders, (2) shear strength of compacted powders, and (3) bulk tensile strength and bulk density of compacted powders as a function of compressive load and distance from the face of the piston. Data on aerosol decay as affected by relative humidity are reported for five powders. A statistical analysis of the behavior of aerosols is presented to explain the phenomena observed in the aerophilometer. Tests on dissemination and deagglomeration, using the wind tunnel, are described which establish an upper limit of approximately 0.58 g/cc density for compacted Sm which can be aerosolized efficiently by the aerodynamic breakup mechanism. Wind tunnel evaluation of a shroud for the discharge tube of the airborne dry agent disseminator is discussed.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 10, 4 Sep-4 Dec 1962 [256 Pages, 12MB] – Compaction characteristics of dry powders, and the behavior of powders in the compacted state are discussed. Purely theoretical studies are presented which agree with results of experimental investigations. Flow rate data are presented from tests in which the full-scale experimental feeder was used to feed powdered sugar, flour, and talc, with a rate of 91 lb/min being achieved with compacted talc. Experiments are described in which foamed plastic was used to encapsulate cylinders of compacted powder which were subsequently fed through the experimental feeder. A sufficiently strong package has not yet been obtained. Successful laboratory and field testing of the E-41 Spray Tank for dry agents is discussed. The structural test report and a preliminary report of the air-worthiness flight tests are presented. Laboratory functional tests are described. Plans for biological flight tests with both the E-41 and E-42 Spray Tanks at Dugway Proving Ground are discussed.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 12, 4 Mar-4 June 1963 [195 Pages, 8.4MB] – In reporting on the continuing study of the mechanics of dry powders, data are presented which were obtained with the improved multipurpose test unit in which shear strength, tensile strength and bulk density are measured within the confines of a single isolator lab. Initial findings are discussed for an investigation of three supposedly identical Sm samples which exhibit distinctly different compaction characteristics. Particle-size distributions (Whitby) are included, which show a smaller MMD for saccharin after compaction to a compressive stress of 2.84 x 10 to the 4th dynes/cubic centimeters. Tests showing that the addition of Cabo-Sil to powders increase the stress required to produce a given bulk density are described. An investigation of the effectiveness of graphite in reducing side-wall friction of compacted powders sliding in cylinders is reported. A 50 percent reduction in the force required to eject the compacted powder has been observed when graphite is used as compared to the force required using a bare aluminum surface. Progress on the fabrication of the second E-41 spray tank is discussed. Minor design changes in the E-41 are described. Plans to flight test the E-41 at Eglin AFB on the F-100D and the F-105 are mentioned.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 13, 4 June-4 Sep 1962 [123 Pages, 5.08MB] – Information on the properties of powders, both biological simulants (Sm and Bg) and non-biological simulants (such as dried egg albumin and cornstarch), aided in the development of the E-41 spray tank for the line-source dissemination of dry solid BW agents. Tensile strength of powders as a function of bulk density and particle size was studied, using the segmented column method. The sliding-disk shear-strength method was used to measure shear characteristics of a number of powders. A methods study was made to determine the relative merits of preshearing or not preshearing the powder prior to the shear test. Surface area of powders was measured by the BET absorption method and a mathematical determination of microspore structure of powders was made from these data. Effects of electrostatic charge and humidity conditions upon aerosol formation and decay were studied with results sufficiently consistent to define the operating range of relative humidity. Storage of compacted Sm samples was continued with viability assays being made on 2-month and 4-month samples. There was no significant difference between compacted and uncompacted Sm.

 Dissemination of Solid and Liquid BW Agents, Quarterly progress rept. no. 14, 4 Sep-4 Dec 1963 [107 Pages, 4.7MB] – Current theoretical investigations relating the interparticle contact energies to mechanical properties of compacted powders are described. Bg (lot SCH-63-109) used in flight tests was found to be more difficult to compact than Bg (lot 17). A new approach to obtain the energy of compaction from Instron data is presented. Agent LX, like other highly elastic materials, was found to be difficult to compact, has a comparatively high compaction shear strength, and a tensile strength too low to measure. An evaluation was made of the buoyant force corrections for the BET adsorption method to measure total surface area. Total surface area and rugosity measurements were made for spray-dried saccharin, agent LX, and egg embryo. A study of the effects of humidity (from 0 to 100 percent R.H.) upon the formation and decay of a ground powdered sugar aerosol is reported.

The post General Mills and Biological Weapons first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to the introduction of the audit:

“We performed the audit in response to allegations made to the Defense Hotline including the allegation that Sandia National Laboratory officials assigned to the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs) directed the Defense Special Weapons Agency to procure work from Department of Energy national laboratories. This is the second of two reports. The first report discusses two allegations related to Defense Special Weapons Agency procurements through the Department of Energy.”

Document Archive

Report 98-036, Intergovernmental Personnel Act Employees in the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs), December 11, 1997 [55 Pages, 13MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [12.82 MB]

The post Report 98-036, Intergovernmental Personnel Act Employees in the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs), December 11, 1997 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Background

This document was originally denied IN FULL under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case 2014-STFO-030 (DHS). Here is the FOIA Log reference to my case, showing multiple FOIA exemptions and the fact the document was denied in full:

Although I appealed that decision, it was never processed and I only discovered that years later when asking for an update to the appeal.

I filed again in 2018, and was pleased to have received the document nearly in full, and rather quickly.

The document is now available below. It is my belief this document has never been released to the public before, and the only citations found online were to the FOIA Case log of my case above.

Document Archive

 Chemical Agent Fact Book, May 2010 [222 Pages, 34.5MB]

The post Chemical Agent Fact Book, May 2010 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Numerous human radiation experiments have been performed in the United States, many of which were funded by various U.S. government agencies such as the United States Department of Defense and the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Experiments included, but were not limited to:

– irradiating the heads of children
– feeding radioactive material to mentally disabled children
– exposing U.S. soldiers and prisoners to high levels of radiation
– irradiating the testicles of prisoners, which caused severe birth defects
– exhuming bodies from graveyards to test them for radiation (without the consent of the families of the deceased)

Below, are different records and reports obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) relating to the topic.

Department of Energy (DOE) / (Previously called the Atomic Energy Commission [AEC])

 Interim Report of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, October 21, 1994 [90 Pages, 10.48MB] – Discusses the fundamental questions the committee is seeking to answer.

 Human Radiation Experiments: The Department of Energy Roadmap to the Story and the Records, February 1995 [315 Pages, 59MB] – Summarizes the Department`s ongoing search for records about human radiation experiments, and enumerates pertinent DOE information.

 Human Radiation Experiments Associated with the U.S. Department of Energy and Its Predecessors, July 1995 [ 221 Pages, 10.48MB ] – This report is a supplement to the Roadmap with over 275 additional studies found since the Roadmap was published.

 Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments Final Report, October 1995 [ 936 Pages, 155MB ] – Determines whether the radiation experiments design and administration adequately met the ethical and scientific standards, including standards of informed consent, that prevailed at the time of the experiments and that exist at report date, and also to determine the ethical and scientific standards and criteria by which it shall evaluate human radiation experiments.
 Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. Final report, Supplemental Volume 1. Ancillary Materials [ 849 Pages, 37MB ] – Large collection of contemporary documents pertaining to the consideration of ethical and legal aspects of use of human beings in medical and experimental studies.

 Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. Final Report, Supplemental Volume 2. Sources and Documentation [ 171 Pages, 27.92MB ] – How the committee went about looking for information concerning human radiation experiments and intentional releases, a description of what was found and where it was found.
 Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. Supplemental Volume 2a, Sources and Documentation Appendices. Final Report [ 911 Pages, 10.48MB ] – Catalog of the location of large numbers of reports pertaining to the charge of the committee.

 Executive Summary and Guide to Final Report: Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, October 24, 1995 [ 41 Pages, 7.0MB ] – Overview of final report including summaries of each chapter.

 Building Public Trust: Actions to Respond to the Report of the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, March 1997 [ 90 Pages, 10.48MB ] – 18 recommendations to improve openness in government, protect human subjects in the future and redress past wrongs.

The post Human Radiation Experiments first appeared on The Black Vault.

Originally, this document was fully denied under FOIA Exemption (b)(1), in June of 2016.

I appealed, based on the reality that the record was nearly 50 years old (at the time of requesting) and it seemed pretty unbelievable that not a single page was releasable.

My appeal was partially granted, and 14 out of the 241 pages were released.

According to the document:

“The purpose of the work undertaken was to provide an improved means of disseminating dry biological agents from high-performance aircraft. “

Declassified Document

 Improved Dry Biological Disseminator, June 1967 [15 Pages, 1.1MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/usaf/AFATL-TR-67-61.pdf

The post Improved Dry Biological Disseminator, June 1967 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Abstract:

The biological warfare (BW) capabilities of state and nonstate actors are growing worldwide. This trend leads us to believe that the risk of an attack against the United States, its interests and allies will increase in the corning years. In addition, the United States would be affected by the use of BW agents anywhere in the world a strong possibility in the years ahead. Washington probably would be called upon to help contain conflicts or deal wit.h a terrorist attack in which
biological agents were used–either overtly or covertly-or to provide scientific expertise and humanitarian assistance to deal with their effects.

Document Archive

 National Intelligence Council: The Biological Warfare Threat, January 2001 [10 Pages, 1.8MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/cia/nic-biowarfare.pdf

The post National Intelligence Council: The Biological Warfare Threat, January 2001 first appeared on The Black Vault.

This report is the first in a series of reports that discuss the acquisition of the Chemical Demilitarization Program (the Demilitarization Program). The mission of the Demilitarization Program is to destroy chemical munitions through incineration or other approved alternative technologies. In 1985, the Congress, in section 1521, title 50, United States Code, “Destruction of Existing Stockpile of Lethal Chemical Agents and Munitions,” (Public Law 99-145), directed DoD to oversee the destruction of the stockpile of lethal chemical agents and munitions because of concerns for the stockpile deterioration. The Army established the Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization to manage the day-to-day operations of destroying the chemical weapons. In May 2001, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics designated the Demilitarization Program as a major Defense acquisition program (Acquisition Category ID) and assigned the Army as the Executive Agent. Through July 2002, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded contracts for construction, systemization, operations, and closure of chemical destruction facilities at Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System, Johnston Island, Hawaii, and Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, Tooele, Utah. The Office of the Secretary of Defense approved a cost estimate totaling $24 billion, of which the program office awarded $5.8 billion in contracts for the Demilitarization Program.

Who Should Read This Report and Why? This report should be read by all who are interested in the Army’s demilitarization of its chemical munitions stockpile. This report discusses why the Army needs to update its acquisition program baseline agreement and to obtain a documented threat assessment.

Document Archive

 A Revised Acquisition Program Baseline and Threat Assessment for the Chemical Demilitarization Program, October 2002 [34 Pages, 1.4MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dod/D-2003-015).pdf

The post A Revised Acquisition Program Baseline and Threat Assessment for the Chemical Demilitarization Program, October 2002 first appeared on The Black Vault.

From the report:

DOD’s ADM facility is to specialize in manufacturing biologics, with a focus on producing antibodies and vaccines. Until recently, the manufacture of biologic medical countermeasures has required a single facility to produce a single product (e.g., a vaccine), and extensive cleaning and sterilization of equipment was required to switch from manufacturing one product to another. However, recent technological advancements have made “flexible manufacturing” possible. These
technologies include the use of disposable equipment, such as equipment for growing cell cultures in disposable plastic material systems rather than in stainless steel tanks that require more time to clean and sterilize prior to the next use, and the use of modular sterile rooms to allow for the manufacture of multiple products simultaneously within a given facility. In the advanced research and development stage, potential medical countermeasures are further evaluated to demonstrate their safety and efficacy for preventing, diagnosing, or treating disease. Successful products are then available for final development and procurement.

As we reported in 2014, DOD is one of several agencies, along with HHS, involved in addressing and countering biological threat agents. As illustrated in figure 1, both DOD and HHS have specific biological medical countermeasure needs, some of which are shared.

Document Archive

 BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE – Additional Information That Congress May Find Useful as It Considers DOD’s Advanced Development and Manufacturing Capability, July 2017 [47 Pages, 2.9MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/gao/685889.pdf

The post BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE – Additional Information That Congress May Find Useful as It Considers DOD’s Advanced Development and Manufacturing Capability, July 2017 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Naval Concepts of Chemical and Biological Warfare – A Department of Defense Motion Picture Film (1952).

This declassified Naval training video talks about the US Navy’s chemical & biological warfare experiments conducted in the early 1950s.

Video Archive

Special thanks to GovernmentAttic.org for getting this declassified.

The post Naval Concepts of Chemical and Biological Warfare – A Department of Defense Motion Picture Film (1952) first appeared on The Black Vault.

Mr. Andrew Ghazee of the AFMC Restoration Office, requested that AFRLIHEST conduct an archival search, review, and analysis of existing records for the 1948 through 1970 time frame to determine the potential for the residual presence of BW/CW agents, munitions, and training devices at AFMC bases and related sites. This action was in response to a tasking received from AF/ILEVR in September 1997. In order to accomplish this research, AFRLIHEST contracted with STI under AF contract F41624-97 -D-6002 to examine any plans, records, and reports that may indicate the presence of BW/CW materiel on AFMC bases and related  sites during this time period.

Archival records and unit histories of the identified installations were reviewed at the base historian’s offices. Environmental reclamation officers and individuals at the Treaty Offices at each base were contacted for any information they may have on previous reclamations and studies.

The Defense Technical Information Center’s on-line technical reports data base was searched for relevant data.

Links to the Army Chemical Corps BW/CW program were identified and investigated. If necessary, the Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick historians were contacted. Transfer of BW/CW materiel by the Army Technical Escort Unit was tracked as records permit. An assessment was made for the discovery potential of BW/CW materiel on the base as a result of the BW/CW program. A report was written for each installation; this final report consists of a compilation of all individual base reports.

Declassified Document

 Report of Investigation: The Presence of Biological and Chemical Warfare Materiel at AFMC Bases within the United States, June 2000 [235 Pages, 12.7MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/dtic/2016-03986-F.pdf

The post Report of Investigation: The Presence of Biological and Chemical Warfare Materiel at AFMC Bases within the United States, June 2000 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Operation Dew took place from 1951-1952 off the southeast coast of the United States, including near Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Operation Dew consisted of two sets of trials, Dew I and Dew II.

The tests involved the release of 250 pounds (110 kg) of fluorescent particles from a minesweeper off the coast. Operation Dew I was described in a U.S. Army report known as “Dugway Special Report 162”, dated August 1, 1952.

The purpose of Operation Dew was to study the behavior of aerosol-released biological agents.

More FOIA requests are open to give more background on this project. I will update this page when they come in.

Declassified Documents

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TIMES OF ARRIVAL OF CLOUD, PEAK RECOVERY AND CESSATION FOR OPERATION DEW II  [25 Pages, 2.7MB]

The post Operation Dew – Aerosol Released Biological Agent Tests, 1950s first appeared on The Black Vault.

According to a declassified report, released to The Black Vault in July of 2015:

The following information is being entered by Investigator ___________.  ______ wrote to the Director, FBI on January 2, 1998 and Sen. Phil Gramm, Texas on Feb 2, 1998. Claims an unnamed subsource is aware of an incident in 1966 where the CIA and U.S. military forces committed a friendly fire mass murder of U.S. soldiers to conceal evidence of war crimes in which VietCong prisoners were used for biological experiments and then murdered.

After requesting the official CIA Inspector General’s report, the entire investigation was denied to me, and it was said to be classified in it’s entirety. I filed an FOIA appeal, which fought for the release of some portion of the document. After months of waiting, I was surprised that they reconsidered their decision, and released a couple pages to me.

Although this is not the final report, or evidence from the investigation, it did state they concluded that the claims were unwarranted and unfounded, and there was no evidence to support anything happened like the ‘source’ had claimed.

My question is, if the information was false and there was nothing the story — why was the entire batch of documents found (it is unknown how much) including the CIA/IGs final report – classified?

Download the Declassified Records (After FOIA Appeal)

 Investigation Case Record, Declassified July 2015 [5 Pages, 0.6 MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/biological/F-2014-00280.pdf

The post Allegations of Biological Experiments in Viet Nam, 1966 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Office of the Secretary of Defense Proliferation: Threat and Response

The post Anthrax first appeared on The Black Vault.

Entomological warfare (EW) is a type of biological warfare that uses insects to attack the enemy. The concept has existed for centuries and research and development have continued into the modern era.

EW has been used in battle by Japan and several other nations have developed and been accused of using an entomological warfare program.

Below are documents pertaining to this research.

Document Archive

Entomological Field Test Technology,Bellwether II, BIO 531, December 1961 [92 Pages, 3.2MB]

Operation Big Itch

Operation Big Itch was a U.S. entomological warfare field test using uninfected fleas to determine their coverage and survivability as a vector for biological agents. The tests were conducted at Dugway Proving Ground in 1954.

Operation Big Itch, November 1954 [40 Pages, 5.42MB]

The post Entomological Warfare first appeared on The Black Vault.

Declassified Documents

Electronic Warfare Joint Test VX-5 Advance Evaluation Note [59 Pages]

Toxicity of High Purity VX in the Rabbit (Percutaneous) and Mouse (Intravenous) Following The Addition of Reaction Products [59 Pages]

The post Biological Agent: VX first appeared on The Black Vault.

These reports were requested under Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR), administratively processed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and released by the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM).  (Source: GovernmentAtttic.org)

The post Medical Intelligence International Biological / Chemical Weapons Assessments first appeared on The Black Vault.

Since 1954, the center has had the goal of protecting America’s livestock from animal diseases. During the Cold War a secret biological weapons program targeting livestock was conducted at the site. This program has been the subject of controversy.

Declassified Documents

 The National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility: Issues for Congress, 19 May 2008 [25 Pages, 0.3MB] – The agricultural and food infrastructure of the United States is potentially susceptible to terrorist attack using biological pathogens. In addition to the impacts of such an attack on the economy, some animal diseases could potentially be transmitted to humans. These diseases are known as zoonotic diseases. Scientific and medical research on plant and animal diseases may lead to the discovery and development of new diagnostics and countermeasures, reducing the risk and impact of a successful terrorist attack. To safeguard the United States against animal disease, Congress has appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to engage in research at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), off the coast of New York, on animal diseases not native to the United States. When creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, Congress transferred the PIADC facility from USDA to DHS. Both USDA and DHS, in cooperation with USDA, conduct foreign animal disease research at PIADC, but PIADC has been identified as outdated and too limited to continue as the primary facility for this research.

Department of Homeland Security Records

I requested a copy of all documents that contain the lists of pathogens which are currently (as of 2013) stored or studied at Plum Island Animal Disease Center.  The below was their response:

 Final Response Letter to FOIA [2 Pages, 0.19MB]

 Inventory Sheet for FOIA Case 2013-STFO-023 [1 Page, 0.1MB]

 Lab Animals Buyers Guide [2 Pages, 0.11MB]

 Department Of Homeland Security Plum Island Animal Disease Center Research Publications 2008-2011 [11 Pages, 0.4MB]

 Plum Island Animal Disease Center Research Reprints 1955-Present [102 Pages, 38.37MB]

The post Plum Island Animal Disease Center first appeared on The Black Vault.

Back in the 1960s, Pfizer (then Chas. Pfizer & Co.) were contracted to conduct research into Chemical Incapacitating Agents for the Army.  Below, you will find the reports released so far to The Black Vault.

 Research on New Chemical Incapacitating Agents by Chas. Pfizer and Co., Inc. – Quarterly Report Number 3 from January 1 to March 31 1964 [33 Pages, 0.7MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/biological/pfizer/pfizerquartrep3.pdf

The post Pfizer and Chemical Weapons first appeared on The Black Vault.

The following documents pertain to Biological and Chemical weapons.

Document Archive

2002 DoD Chemical & Biological Defense Program Annual Report to Congress, April 2002 [302 Pages]

 Awareness Level Wmd Training: Chemical Agents, 01 January 2009 [22 Pages, 1.85MB] – This module provides students with an understanding of chemical agents and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC) used as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

Biological Effects of Blast, December 1961 [127 Pages]

Biological Warfare Defense Vaccine Research & Development Programs, July 2001 [190 Pages]

Chemical and Biological Defense Program Annual Report to Congress, March 2000 [272 Pages]

Chemical Weapons, 30 March 1965 [12 Pages, 5.59mb] – Foreign Intelligence from Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Chemical Weapons at the Turn of the Century, 31 Jan 1996 [343 Pages, 12.68mb]

Civil Defense Aspects of Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Warfare against Crops, 1952 [74 Pages, 6.73MB]

Combating Terrorism: Chemical and Biological Medical Supplies Are Poorly Managed, March 8, 2000 [5 Pages, 129k]

DARPA Biological Warfare Defense Program [47 Pages]

Effort to Reduce Former Soviet Threat Offers Benefits, Poses New Risks, April 2000 [42 Pages]

Incapacitant and Irritant Chemical Weapons of the Armed Forces of the So Called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 7 October 1994 [12 Pages]

Injuries Caused by Chemical Agents, 1981 [50 Pages, 8.6MB]

Joint Service Chemical & Biological Defense Program Overview, FY00-02 Overview [88 Pages]

Medical Aspects of Biological Warfare, 2007 [632 Pages, 47.43MB] – Reflecting the critical threat posed by biological warfare and terrorism in a post 9-11 world, Medical Aspects of Biological Warfare (an update of Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare published in 1997) addresses the weaponization of biological agents, categorizing potential agents as food, waterborne, or agricultural agents or toxins, and discusses their respective epidemiology. Recent advances in biomedical knowledge are presented that include descriptions of individual agents and the illnesses induced. Authors discuss biotoxins and explain methods for early identification for anthrax, plague, smallpox, alphaviruses, and staphylococcal enterotoxins. Case studies and research on successful management practices, treatments, and antidotes are also included. Publisher: Department of Defense, Office of The Surgeon General, US Army, Borden Institute. 2007: 672 p.; ill.

Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare, 2008 [847 Pages, 15.83MB] – This volume was prepared for military medical educational use. The focus of the information is to foster discussion that may form the basis of doctrine and policy. The opinions or assertionscontained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or asreflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

The Modern Possibilities of Prevention and Therapy in Animal Poisoning with Different Kinds of Nerve War Gases, 1964 [59 Pages]

NIE 4-64 Likelihood of a Proliferation of Biological and Chemical Warfare Capabilities, 21 October 1964 [14 Pages]

 President Nixon’s Decision to Renounce the U.S. Offensive Biological Weapons Progra, 01 October 2009 [36 Pages, 0.3MB] – The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union was a prominent feature of the Cold War. A lesser known but equally dangerous element of the superpower competition involved biological weapons (BW), living microorganisms that cause fatal or incapacitating diseases in humans, animals, or plants. By the late 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union had both acquired advanced BW capabilities. The U.S. biological weapons complex, operated by the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, consisted of a research and development laboratory at Fort Detrick in Maryland, an open-air testing site at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and a production facility at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas that manufactured biological warfare agents and loaded them into bomblets, bombs, and spray tanks.

Proceedings of the U.S. Army Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center Scientific Conference on Chemical Defense Research (1991) Held in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland on 19-22 November 1991 [1057 Pages, 17.73mb]

Psychochemical Agents, 14 September 1956 [40 Pages, 1.83mb]

Raman Spectroscopy of Chemical Agents and Stimulants: GA, DIMP, and HD [6 Pages]

Status of Chemistry and Chemical Technology In Communist China, Part 1 (1966) [41 Pages, 5.45mb]

Strategic Chemical Weapons in Intermediate War, November 1968 [59 Pages, 7.83mb]

U.S. Army Activity in the U.S. Biological Warfare Program, 1942-1977, Volume I, 25 February 1977 [48 Pages, 2,1mb]

Why Must We Know The Chemical Weapons of the Enemy (Bulgarian Intelligence), April 1986 [14 Pages, 2.05mb]

The post Misc. Records on Biological / Chemical Weapons first appeared on The Black Vault.