The Secretary of the Army was assigned as the Department of War (DoW) Executive Agent (EA) for the Recovered Chemical Warfare Materiel (RCWM) Program, as established by Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 5101.17E (11 May 2016; Change 3 effective 9 May 2022) titled Roles and Responsibilities Associated with the Recovery of Chemical Warfare Material.
The Secretary of the Army delegated the EA responsibilities to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment (ASA(IE&E)). The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health (DASA(ESOH)) fulfills these responsibilities on behalf of ASA(IE&E).
The consolidation of responsibilities for this Program, under the Army, provides for consistency in DoW’s approach, avoids duplicating programs and aids with the efficient use of limited resources.
The RCWM Program, which maintains critical DoW capabilities (i.e., the RCWM Program Support Functions), provides a wide range of support for the Defense Environmental Restoration Program as DoW seeks to address locations known or suspected to contain chemical warfare materiel (CWM). Initially, the RCWM Program was intended to focus on the recovery and destruction of buried CWM; however, the Army understood that the intent was to address every situation in which the RCWM Program Support Functions would be required to address recovered CWM, regardless of the circumstances of recovery. As such, the Army recommended and OSW agreed the RCWM Program be expanded to provide a comprehensive approach for addressing recovered CWM, including CWM that are discarded military munitions or unexploded ordnance, munitions and certain materials of interest, and chemical agent-contaminated debris or environmental media posing a chemical agent-hazard. Additionally, on a cost-reimbursable basis, the RCWM Program Support Functions are provided to other DoW programs, and, subject to DoW approval, Combatant Commands, and the Department of State.
Relevant Documents
Policy and Guidance
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment. Memorandum, Designation of the Chemical Materials Activity as the Program Execution Manager for the Recovered Chemical Warfare Materiel Program. March 30, 2026.
Department of War (DoW) Munitions Response Site Inventory website.
Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics). Memorandum: Final Implementation Plan for the Recovery and Destruction of Buried Chemical Warfare Materiel. March 10, 2010.
Studies
National Academy of Science. Systems and Technologies for the Treatment of Non-Stockpile Chemical Warfare Material. 2002.
Guides and Information
Defense Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Network and Information Exchange, 3Rs Explosives Safety Education Web site. Fact Sheet: Chemical Agent Identification Sets. June 2024.
RCWM Program Integrating Office. RCWM Program Installation Guide. March 2018.
Fact Sheet: Explosive Destruction System Overview. June 2024.
Fact Sheet: Single CAIS Access and Neutralization System. June 2024.
Fact Sheet: Milestones in U.S. Chemical Weapons Storage and Destruction. July 2024.
Fact Sheet: RCMD Overview. June 2024.
Fact Sheet: Materiel Assessment Review Board (MARB). June 2024.
Relevant Laws and Regulations
10 U.S.C., CHAPTER 160—Environmental Restoration (sections 2700-2711).
32 C.F.R. Part 179, Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (MRSPP).