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File: o1_0001.txt
[DECLASSIFIED 21 DEC 1995]
APPENDIX B
RIOT CONTROL AGENTS AND HERBICIDES 2
1. Policy on Riot Control A~ents and Herbicides 3
a. Use in War 4
(l) The United States has renounced first use of 5
herbicides in war except under regulations applicable to 6
domestic use or for control of vegetation within US bases 7
and installations or around their immediate perimeters. 8
(2) The United States has renounced first use of RCAs 9
in war except in defensive military modes to save lives,
such as in: 1l
(a) Riot control situations in areas under direct 12
and distinct US military control, including the l3
control of rioting prisoners of war. 14
(b) Situations in which civilians are used to 15
mask or screen attacks and civilian casualties can be 16
reduced or avoided. l7
(c) Rescue missions in remote or isolated areas, 18
such as recovering downed aircrews and passengers and 19
rescuing escaping prisoners of war. 20
Classified by Director, J-5 21
Declassify on OADR
Appendix B
Annex F
B-l JSCP FY 89-90
(d) Rear-echelon areas outside the zone of
immediate combat to protect convoys from civil 2
disturbances. terrorists, and paramilitary operations. 3
(e) Security operations regarding the protection 4
or recovery of nuclear weapons. 5
(3) In wartime, employment of RCAs outside the war 6
zone is authorized as prescribed for peacetime. 7
b. Use in Peace 8
(1) RCAs may be employed in civil-disturbance 9
operations in the United States, the Commonwealth of lo
Puerto Rico, and US possessions and territories in 1l
accordance with instructions promulgated by the Secretary 12
of the Army. l3
(2) RCAs may be used on US bases, posts, embassy 14
grounds, and installations for protection and security 15
purposes, riot control, installation security, and 16
evacuation of US noncombatants and foreign nationals. 17
The US-controlled portions of foreign installations are 18
considered US installations. 19
(3) Chemical aerosol-irritant projectors may be used 20
by military law enforcement personnel for the performance 21
of law enforcement activities (a) onbase and offbase in 22
Appendi,x B
Annex F'
B-2 JSCP FY 89-90
the United States and its territories and possessions,
(b) onbase overseas, and (c) offbase overseas in those 2
countries where such use is specifically authorized by 3
the host-country government. 4
(4) RCAs may be employed offbase (worldwide) for the 5
protection or recovery of nuclear weapons under the same 6
conditions as those authorized for the use of lethal 7
force. (See DOD Directive 5210.56.) 8
(S) RCAs may be employed in training. 9
(6) ( Authority for use of RCAs in peacetime situations 10
not covered by the above (e.g., to save lives in 11
counterterrorist operations) will be addressed in plans 12
and requested by the ClNCs for Secretary of Defense 13
approval. 14
(7) Herbicides may be used within US bases, posts, 15
and installations for control of vegetation. Use of 16
herbicides offbase overseas must be in accordance with 17
host-country laws and agreements, US EPA requirements, or 18
Service regulations, whichever are the most stringent. 19
20
22
Appendix B
Annex F
B-3 JSCP FY 89-90
c. (U) Capabilities
(l) US forces will be adequately trained and equipped 2
to protect themselves against enemy use of RCAs and to
employ RCAs and herbicides when directed.
(2) The Services currently are authorized to employ --5
the riot control agents CS and CR. 6
2. Authority
a. Only the President may authorize: 8
(l) Employment of RCAs in war, including the defensive --9
military modes. However, advance authority to use RCAs 10
for protection or recovery of nuclear weapons has been 11
delegated to the Secretary of Defense 12
(2) Any wartime employment of herbicides, including
installation vegetation control. 14
b. The Secretary of Defense may authorize: 15
(1) Employment of RCAs or herbicides in peacetime. 16
(2) Employment of RCAs in wartime for the protection or 17
recovery of nuclear weapons. 18
c. ClNCs may authorize: 19
(1) The use of RCAs in peacetime on US bases or posts for 20
riot control, installation security, civil disturbance 21
operations, and noncombatant emergency evacuation 22
Appendix B
Annex F
B-4 JSCP FY 89-90
operations. The US-controlled portions of foreign
installations are considered US installations. 2
(2) The movement and storage of RCAs and herbicides, as 3
necessary, to support requirements, provided US control 4
is maintained. 5
(3) The offbase use of RCAs in peacetime for the 6
protection or recovery of nuclear weapons, under the same 7
situations as authorized for the use of lethal force. _8
(4) The use of herbicides in peacetime within and, when 9
authorized by the host-country government, around US 1ø
bases for control of vegetation. 11
d. [
EXEMPTION 1.3 (a)(1)
]
3. Civil Disturbance Operations. The Secretary of the 20
Army, as Executive Agent for the Department of Defense for 2
Appendix B
Annex F
B-5 JSCP FY 89-90
civil disturbance operations, has promulgated* instructions
governing the employment of RCAs in civil disturbances in the _2
United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and US _3
possessions and territories.
4. Tasks --5
a. The ClNCs will include information on RCAs and _6
herbicides in the chemical section of applicable OPLANs as
follows: 8
(1) The use of RCAs and herbicides in conventional or _9
combined conventional-nuclear combat operations. 1ø
(2) The use of RCAs and herbicides in wartime in 1l
defensive modes to save lives and in peacetime for 12
installation protection and security, to save lives in 13
terrorist or hostile situations, and during civil 14
disorders. 15
b. The Chiefs of the Services will acquire improved RCAs. 16
8
19
20
21
* Department of the Army Civil Disturbance Plan, GARDEN PLOT, 22
1 March 1984
Appendix B
Annex F
B-6 JSCP FY 89-90
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