Army Revises Policy on Certain CAIS

The Army released a policy memorandum providing clarification of guidance and procedures for use in field operations involving Chemical Agent Identification Sets (CAIS) containing dilute chemical agents. The policy specifically applies only to the K951/2, K953/4, and K955 CAIS and is applicable for range clearance activities on operational ranges as well as munitions response actions on other than operational ranges.

The policy basically allows certain CAIS recovered to be treated and disposed of as hazardous waste by contractors as an alternative to initiating a chemical event report and having the Army (i.e. Technical Escort) respond as an explosives or emergency response under the 20th Support Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosives  CBRNE). The policy also waives the requirement for a chemical site plan and a munition response chemical safety submission for sites where only K951/2, K953/4 and/or K955 CAIS are recovered.

For sites where other CAIS, munitions with an unknown liquid fill, or a CWM are recovered, the policy remains intact that all fieldwork will cease and an emergency response will be requested. After the recovered CAIS are identified, a determination will be made as to "whether the response or range clearance activities should revert to a CWM response".

Details on CAIS covered in the policy are provided below:

K951/2 In use from the early 1930s to the late 1950s, the K951/K952 CAIS contained 48 Pyrex, flame sealed ampules, 12 each containing 1.4 ounce solution of mustard (H, 5 percent in chloroform), Lewisite (L, 5 percent in chloroform), chloropicrin (PS, 50 percent in chloroform), and Phosgene (CG) for a total of 26 ounces. Each ampule is 1 inch in diameter and 7.5 inches long and is packed in a cardboard screw cap container. Twelve cardboard containers each are packaged into 4 press fit metal cans, which were packed into a steel cylinder (a.k.a. pig). The only difference between the K951 and K952 is that the K951 was issued with blasting caps that were packaged and shipped in a separate container.

K953/4 The K953 / K954 CAIS are identical in configuration to the K951 and K952 except that they contain eight (8) ampules each of Phosgene (CG), Lewisite (L, 5 percent in chloroform), distilled mustard (HD, 5 percent in chloroform), cyanogens chloride (CK), nitrogen mustard (HN-1, 10 percent in chloroform), and GA simulant for a total of 23.8 ounces of agent per set. The only difference between the K953 and K954 is that the K953 was issued with blasting caps that were packaged and shipped in a separate container.

K955 The K955 CAIS contains seven (7) glass bottles with a total of 3.5 ounces of agent per CAIS (four bottles contain 3 ounces of activated charcoal on which agent is absorbed). One (1) bottle contains Lewisite (L or M-1); one (1) bottle contains chloropicrin (PS), two (2) bottles contain mustard (HS), one (1) contains 6 grams of triphosgene (a Phosgene simulant), one (1) contains 15 grams of chloroacetophenone (CN); and one (1) 15 grams of adamiste (DM). The sets are packed in a hinged covered wood box approximately 30 inches wide, 15 inches long, and 11 inches high.

The Army CAIS policy an be viewed using the download link below.