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File: x1_0001.txt
[DECLASSIFIED 21 DEC 1995]
Status of Action View Wednesday
Action Number: 1379
Subgroup: B
Combined Action Number: 01379B
Originator: TEAM CHIEF CLOSED
ect: HANDLING OF CONTAMINATED
REMAINS
Action Agency: J-4
Coordinating Agency: USA
USN
USAF
USMC
USCG
Action Assigned Day: 14
Action Assigned Hour: 500
Action Assigned Month: FEB
Action Assigned Year: 91
Suspense Day:
Suspense Hour:
Suspense Month:
Suspense Year:
Available Field:
Keyword Field: CLOSED
Implementer: MEMO
Implementer Day: 12
Implementer Hour: 1200
Implementer Month: MAR
Implementer Year: 91
Classification:
Remarks: OUTGROWTH OF SJS 2571/278-00 TO GET CSA
APPROVED PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CONTAM.
REMAINS (CSA IS EXEC. AGENT FOR CJCS).
TO DJS 121130Z MAR 91.
INFORMATION PAPER SEEM BY VDJS, ON 12
MAR. ACTION OBE AND FILED BY ACTIONS
DIVISION.
CLOSED
ID: CA3
CURRENT DATE: 03/20/91
TIME OF DAY: 14:30
CREATION ID: CA3
CREATION DATE: 02/14/91
CREATION TIME: 00:03
CONTROL NUMBER
ROUTIN G COORDINATION COVER SHEET 1-4A 00346-91
DATE RECENED
RETURN TO: ADMIN SUPPORT BRANCN, SJS, 2Eg29~ THE PENTAGON Jamie M. lZ March 1991
DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION DATE OF DOCUMENT
SUBJECT
Procedures for Handling ~ Decontamination of Chemically and
Biologically Contaminated Remains
DJS INFO
CIRCULATION OF THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE TO INDIVIDUALS INDICATED BELOW. THE DOCUMENT WILL BE RETURNED TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE FOR DISPATCH OR FILING. rHII~ M #IOULD Nor B~ m~WED Fl~OM ~WECr DOClJME~Vr.
TO IIAIIE IIIITIAI COIIHE-TS
CNAIRIIIIAII. JCS 0ø
EXECUTIVE ASSISTAYT 001
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ASSISTAI1T 001A
VICE CHAIRIIIAIII, JCS ol
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO VICE 011
CHAIRIIAII, JCS
ASSISTAIIIT TO TNE
CHAIRIIIA~ JCS 02
EXECUTIVE ASSISTIUIT 021
CNAIRIIIAII'S STAFF 6ROUP
LEGAL COUIISEL 02E
LEGISUTIVE ASST 02F
PROTOCOL 003
CIVILUUI SPECIAL ASSISTAIIT OU
SPEUAL ASSISTAIIT PU8LIC AFFAIRS 005
.
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR 008
3 DIRECTOR, JT STAFF 03
EA TO THE OJS 031
2 VICE OIRECTOR, JT STAFF o4
EA TO TNE VDJS o41
~ , .
SECRETARY, JT STAFF~4 ø5 ~0 ~ Z
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT BR 051
JS-OCJCS FORM 2
[DECLASSIFIED 21 DEC 1995]
~ ~
JOINT STAFF ACTION PROCESSING FOR~
TO DJS CLASSlFrCATION ACTION NUM8ER ORIG SUSP~NSE
J-4A oo346-91
THRU DL ~ ACTION CJCS SUSPENSE
APPROVAL
SUBJECT ProcedUres for Handling & Decon- of X INFORMATION
Chemically and ~iologically
Contaminated Remains CJCS NUMBER J SUSPENSE
ACTION SUMMARY
1. PurPose. To inform the DJS of the status of approval of procedures
for handling and decontamination of chemically and biologically
contaminated remains.
2. DisCUssiN
a. J-4 AO briefed the DJS on the draft handling and disposition
procedures 25 Feb 91. DJS asked to be advised of the 8tatus of approval
of the procedures.
b. Status is summarized in attached information paper.
3. Recommendation: None, for information only.
4. UNCLASSIFIED WHEN SEPARATED from ENCLOSURES
Attachment
COORDINATION / APPROVAL
OFFICE NAME AND DATE EXT
J-4
DECL ON OADR
[DECLASSIFIED 21 DEC 1995]
INFORMATION PAPER
Subject: Procedures for Handling and Disposition of Chemically
and Biologically Contaminated Remains.
1. Purpose. To inform the DJS of the status of implementation
of procedures for handling and disposition of chemically and
biologically contaminated remains.
2. Key Points
ù J-4 AO coordinated draft procedures with the Joint Staff,
the Services, USCENTCOM, and USTRANSCOM; all addressees
concurred with draft, which was forwarded on 24 Feb 91 to the
USA for approval. An ADCSLOG AO briefed procedures to Chief of
Staff, Army (CSA) with favorable results.
ù USA is prepared to submit draft procedures to CSA for
approval. Upon approval, DASD(PA&QA) (RADM Martin) will
request the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) formal
endorsement of the procedures, which the CDC will communicate
appropriately to each State Health Department.
ù RADM Martin further stated that:
ù the procedures already include measures that meet or
e~ceed CDC recommendations (tab A).
ù It would not be necessary for DOD to further coordinate
the procedures with each individual State, Territory, and
country where decontaminated remains may be shipped for burial.
ù Concurrent with the development and approval of the
procedures, the OSA suggested on 22 Feb 91 that the Special
Assistant to the SECDEF "... establish clearly who the
Secretary of Defense holds responsible for Joint Mortuary
Affairs and that he designate an E~ecutive Agent for the
Department." (tab B) Pending a response to that memo, the VCSA
suspended the procedures' submission to CSA for formal approval.
ù Special Assistant to the SECDEF's office informed the J-4
AO on Mar 4 that it had received the OSA suggestion, was
working the action, and would inform the J-4 AO upon its
completion.
Prepared by: [ EXEMPTION (b)(6) ]
SUSD, J-4, E~t 71064
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
SUBJECT: Control of the East Ccast Port ~ortuary and
Casualty Arrangements
Your February 12 note asks me to clarify who
is in charge of the East Coast Fort (Dover)
Mortuary and arrangements for handling casualties.
There is a Joint Chiefs of Staff document,
dated 31 May 1990, that says the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff designates the Chief of
Staff of the Army as the Executive Agent for The
Joint .Mortuary Affairs Program. This document also
designates the U. S. Air Force aS the responsible
agent for CONUS ports of entry mortuary facilities.
The Chief of Staff of the Army maintains a Central
Joint Mortuary Affairs Office which provides policy
guidance abd operational direction during war
time. I have not been abie to find any document
which shows that the Secretary of Defense gave
responsibility for Joint Mortuary Affairs to the
Chair~an of the Joint Chiefs o~ Staff.
I suggest you establish clearly who the
Secretary of Defense holds responsible for Joint
Mor~uary Affairs and that he desi~nate an Executive
Agen~ for the Departmert. After this is done, I
would flrther suggest ~.~at that Executive Agent
get together with t~.e Offlce of the Secretary of
Defense and the other Services to develop a clear
understanding of the p~ocess, procedures and
responsibilities for ensuring this program is
carried out in the most professional and digni-
fied manner.
The Army stands ready to assume this ExecutiVe
Agercy.
/ M. P. ~. Stone
Attachments ~ I
STATUS OF ACTION VIEW
Combined Action Number: 01379A
Originator: SJS 2571/278-00 CLOSED
Subject: HANDLING OF CONTAMINATED
REMAINS (278)
on Agency: J-4
rdinating Agency: J-l
J-3
J-S
J-7
J-8
SVCS
LC
Action Assigned Day: 04
Action Assigned Hour: 1720
Action Assigned Month: FEB
Action Assigned Year: 91
Suspense Day: 00
Suspense Hour: 0000
Suspense Month:
Suspense Year: 00
Available Field:
Keyword Field: CLOSED
Implementer: CSA MEMO/MSG
Implementer Day: 14
Implementer Hour: 0028
Implementer Month: FEB
Implementer Year: 91
Classification:
P~arks: EXPANSION OF ORIGINAL TASK. ASKS CSA TO
APPROVE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING AND DISP
OF CONTAMINATED REMAINS. CSA IS EXEC.
AGENT FOR CJCS. SJS2571/278 IS CLOSED.
THIS IS STRICTLY A CAT ACTION.
CLOSED BY J-4 MEMO. NEW SOA WILL BE
OPENED WHEN ARMY SUBMITS NEW PROCEDURES
ID: CA3
CURRENT DATE: 02/13/91
TIME OF DAY: 19:30
CREATION ID: CA3
CREATION DATE: 02/04/91
CREATION TIME: 12:16
[DECLASSIFIED 21 DEC 1995]
THE JOINT STAFF
Washington, D.C.
Action No. J-4 2571/278-oo
(Date) 28 January 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR ACTION OFFICERS
X PLANNERS (SERVICES)/DIVISION CHIEFS (OTHERS)
USA XX USN XX
USAF XX USMC XX
J-l XX J-2
J-3 XX J-4 XX
J-5 XX J-6
J-7 XX J-8 XX
OTHER Leaal Counsel, CJCS
Subject: Handling & Disposition of Contaminated Human
Remains
1. The attached JS Form 136 is forwarded for:
. Preliminary Coordination
XX Final Coordination
Information
2. Request a response by 2000 10 FEB 91
Respond to [ EXEMPTION (b)(6) ]
~J.W. STEVENSO , JR.
Lieutenant Commander, USN
Chief
Military Secretariat, J-4
JOINT STAFF ACTION PROCESSING FORM
TO CSA CLASSIFICATION ACTION NUM~E ~ ORIG SUSPENSE
THRU Chairman, Central Joint Mortuary
Affairs Office ~CJMAO) ~
ACTION
X APPROVAL
X SIGNATURE SJS SUSPENSE
SUBJECT Handling & Disposition of
Contaminated Human Remains
ACTION SUMMARY
1. purpose: To obtain CSA approval of Joint procedures for handling
and disposition of chemically & biologically contaminated human remains.
2. Discussion:
a. JCS MOP 16 designates Chief of Staff (CSA), Army as Executive
Agent of the Chairman, JCS for the Joint Mortuary Affairs Program. CSA
designated the Director, Casualty & Memorial Affairs Operations Center,
USA Total Army Personnel Center as Chairman of the Central Joint Mortuary
Affairs Office (CJMAO).
b. USA has drafted procedures for handling & disposition of
contaminated human remains. Handling & di~position of contaminated.
remains has important dimension~ beyond those associated with normal
mortuary affairs:
(l) Legal: temporary interment in host/belli9erant nations;
remation of biologically-contaminated remains; release of less than
fully- decontaminated remain~ to next of kin for burial in private
cemetaries; enroute overflight/landing~ with less than fully-
decontaminated remain~. (Primary review reponsibilities: Services' and
CJCS~ Legal Counsels).
- ~2) Policy: temporary burial of contaminatod remains in
host/belligerant nation~. (Primary Review responsibility J-5)
(3) Medical: alternative to using cremation as a means of
decontamination. (Prim~r~ r~ reJpon~ibilitie~: J-4 and Services' senior medical offico~.
(4) Technical ~ch~ical): o~tablish chomical & biological
decontamination standara~ for human rem~in~; ad~u~t aecontamination
standard5 and buri~l r--~S~Ction~ ~ req~ired. (Pri~ry review
responsibilitJ..r U~. .~;~
- COODINATION / APPROVAL
OFFICE EXT OFFICE NAME & DATE I EXT
J-1 USA
J-3 USAF
J-4 USN
J-5 USMC
J-7
J-8
CJCS COUNSEL
ACTION OFFICFR/DIV/PHONE [ EXEMPTION (b)(6) ]
.
DATE PREPAR~D CLASSIFICA~I~N Classifie~ by Multiple Sources
Declas~ify on O~DR
(5) Materiel: supply of unique items necessary to
decontaminate, transfer, and bury contaminated remains (ex. Depot
Area Air Monitoring System, hermetically-sealed transfer cases,
and cremetories) to USCENTCOM. (Primary
responsibility: USA).
(6) Moral, ethical, and religious: Impact of cremation
Primary responsibility : Service Chaplains.
3. (C) Recommendation: That CSA sign memorandum (tab A) to
approve Joint procedures for handling & disposition of
contaminated human remains procedures (tab B).
attachment
CHIEF of STAFF
UNITED STATES ARMY ~ ~
MEMORANDUM FOR: Record
SUBJECT: Handling and Disposition of Contaminated Remains
Attached Joint procedures for handling and disposition of
chemically and biologically contaminated remains are approved.
incl
CARL E. VUONO
CH I EF OF STAFF
Joint Procedures for Decontamining Human Remains
28 Jan 91
1 . Genera1 .
a. Combat imperatives and operational constraints often
preclude the immediate decontamination and disposition of
contaminated human remains . Under most combat scenarios,
therefore, remains will be temporarily interred on-site or at
an available uncontaminated site. Units would only inter
remains on a belligerant nation~ s soil as a matter of absolute
last resort after all possible other alternatives had been
exhaus ted .
b. Later, when conditions permit (probably some time after
combat operations, a period that may be measured in weeks or
months ), t eams wi 11 es t abl i sh co 1 lect i on/decont ami na t i on/
cremation points, exhume remains, take them to the points, and
process them in accordance with procedures below.
c. Naval commanders will determine whether contaminated
remains aboard ship are buried at sea or immediately evacuated
to temporary interment sites or decontamination/cremation
points ashore, or held aboard ship for subsequent evacuation.
d. Guidance for determining the effectiveness of
decontamination is available in Department of Defense
Regulation 6055 . 9-STD, Army Regulation 385-64, Army Pamphlet
385-61, and Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
Regulation 385-1. These references identify three increasingly
stringent levels of decontamination: X, 3X, and 5X.
e. Existing guidance requires materiel decontaminated to
the 3X level and repatriated to the continental US (CONUS) to
remain under federal government control. This will restrict
burial of 3X-level human remains to federal cemetaries.
f. Cremation is the only method of decontaminating
biologically-contaminated remains. Materiel decontaminated to
the 5X level may be released from federal control (i.e. remains
may be buried in private cemetaries).
2. Chemically-contaminated Remains. All remains and personal
effects in contaminated areas will be considered contaminated.
Unit Search and Recovery (S&R) teams, in chemical protective
clothing and equipment, will tag these remains with standard
contamination markers.
a. When conditions preclude immediate evacuation of
remains to a collection point for decontamination, the unit
will:
(l) Conduct and record a preliminary identification of
remains IAW e~isting doctrine.
(2) Place the remains in a Type I Human Remains Pouch to
accelerate the natural decontamination process.
(3) Prepare a temporary interment site in accordance with
current doctrine and inter the remains pouches.
(4) Mark the site location, record and report it through
higher headquarters to the Unified Command's Joint Mortuary
Affairs Office.
(5) When conditions permit, teams will be formed to exhume,
decontaminate, and process remains for repatriation.
(6) All personnel involved will wear chemical protective
clothing and equipment consistent with the threat and
commanders' guidance; in any case, personnel will wear butyl
rubber gloves when handling contaminated remains.
b. When conditions permit the immediate evacuation of
remains to a collection point capable of decontamination:
(l) Units will place the remains in a Type II remains pouch
and evacuate the remains to a Graves Registration (GRREG)
collection/decontamination point(s). Units will use designated
evacuation routes to minimize further contamination.
(2) GRREG units will establish the minimum possible number
of collection/decontamination point(s), which should be
identified in operations orders. Establishment and location of
these sites depends upon numerous factors, including
operational constraints, service to supported units, extensive
logistical support requirements, impact on morale, and risks
incurred during the evacuation of contaminated remains to the
collection points.
(3) GRREG personnel will wear protective clothing
consistent with their commander's threat assessment; in any
case, they will wear butyl rubber gloves when handling remains
decontaminated to the 3X level. GRREG personnel will establish
and operate a:
(a) dismount point. GRREG personnel in protective clothing
and equipment will meet unit evacuation vehicles. They will
verify the remains' identity, then remove all clothing and
personal effects e~cept identification tags and personal
effects (PE) necessary for identification. ID tags and these
PE will be decontaminated, placed in a Department of
Transportation-approved container, and will accompany remains.
Other PE will be incinerated. Evacuation vehicles will be
decontaminated IAW local standard operating procedures.
(b) hypochlorite soak point. Engineers will excavate a
submersion pit and waterproof it with a liner or field
expedient. The pit must accomodate the total submersion of
contaminated remains. GRREG personnel will fill the pit with a
10% solution of calcium hypochlorite (household bleach, HTH, or
10% Super Tropical Bleach solution can be substituted).
Remains will be tagged for edentification and to record initial
submersion time, then weighted as requireld~o~Isubmerge them.
Remains will be submerged for a minimum of 30 minutes.
(c) water rinse point. Rinse the entire remains with water
and control the runoff with a sump. Rinse can be done with a
M17 Sanator, M12 Decon Apparatus in the shower mode, buckets,
or other field expedients. Rinse water does not constitute a
chemical hazard.
(4) Place remains into a Type II Human Remains Pouch and
place the pouch in a tent, building, or area. Place a M256
Detection Kit into operation inside the pouch to determine if
remains have been decontaminated to the X level. Repeat the
entire process if contamination still exists.
(5) Place the pouch with remains in a still air environment
and monitor it with a Depot Area Air Monitoring System (DAAMS)
for four hours. If there are no detectable levels of
contamination, the remains are considered decontaminated to the
3X level. Repeat the decontamination process if contamination
still exists.
(6) Army Chemical Corps personnel (such as a chemical
officer (74A/C), NBC Specialist (54B), or equivalent civilian)
will certify remains' level of decontamination. The GRREG
collection point Officer In Charge (OIC), Non-commissioned
Officer In Charge (NCOIC), or equivalent civilian will
authenticate remains verification certificates.
(7) Human remains decontaminated to the 3X level can be
repatriated in a hermetically sealed transfer case that meets
the specifications for transporting "Poison A" cargo (IAW Title
49, Code of Federal Regulations). Transfer cases will be
marked IAW the Federal Code and can only be transported on a
cargo conveyance; they will not be transported on a passenger
conveyance.
2. Bioloaically-contaminated Remains. All human remains and
personal effects in a contaminated area will be considered
contaminated. Unit Search and Recovery (S~R) teams, in
chemical protective clothing and equipment, will tag the
remains with standard contamination markers.
a. When conditions preclude immediate evacuation of
remains to a collection point for cremation, the unit will:
(l) Conduct and record a preliminary identification of
remains IAW existing doctrine.
(2) Place the remains in a Type I Human Remains Pouch to
accelerate the natural decontamination process. Personal
effects should accompany the remains in the Pouch.
(3) Prepare a temporary interment site in accordance with
current doctrine and inter the remains pouches.
(4) Mark and record the site location and report it through
higher headquarters to the Unified Command's Joint Mortuary
Affairs Office.
(5) When conditions permit, teams will be formed to exhume,
permanently identify, cremate, and process remains for
repatriation.
(6) All personnel involved Will Wear chemical protective
clothing and equipment consistent with the threat and
commanders' guidance; in any case, personnel will wear butyl
rubber gloves when handling contaminated remains.
b. When conditions permit the immediate evacuation of
remains to a collection/cremation point:
(l) Units will place the remains in a Type II remains
pouch, mark the cargo as contaminated, and evacuate the remains
to that point. Units will use designated evacuation routes to
minimize further contamination.
(2) GRREG units will establish the minimum possible number
of collection/cremation points capable of final identification
and cremating remains and should identify these points in
operations orders. The location of these points depends upon
numerous factors, including operational constraints, service to
supported units, eXtensive logistical support requirements,
impact on morale, and risks incurred during the evacuation of
contaminated remains to the collection points.
(3) GRREG personnel will establish and operate a:
(a) dismount point. GRREG personnel in protective clothing
and equipment will meet arriving evacuation vehicles and verify
the remains~ preliminary identity. Evacuation vehicles will be
decontaminated IAW local standard operating procedures.
(b) identification point. GRREG personnel will remove all
clothing and personal effects (except identification tags) from
remains, photograph them, and dispose of the effects in an
incinerator. Next, identification specialists will make a
positive identif ication of the remains .
(c) cremation point. Remains will then be cremated at a
minimum of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Cremated
remains will be recovered, placed in individual containers with
identification affixed, and repatriated to CONUS.
13 February 1991
Memorandum for CAT Team Chief
Thru: CAT Exec Asst
Dep Team Chief
Subject: SOA 1379A, Handling of Contaminated Remains
1. Recommend SOA 1379A be closed.
2. Per conversation with Susan Price, SJS Actions Division,
LTC Bob Ross, J-4 Sus Div, and me, this action should be
closed because it has become overcome by events. The SJS
tasker 2571/278-00 was satisfied by SOA 1379 which is closed.
SOA 1379A was opened by LTC Ross to coordinate the Army's
proposed procedures. The Army has developed new procedures
which will be coordinated with the Services, J-staffs, and LC.
3. When we receive the new procedures and prepare the 136 we
will open a new SOA (1379B)
LTC Rick F an
J-4 CAT LN~
CF: J-4 LRC
J-4 SusDiv
STATUS OF ACTION VIEW
Combined Action Number: 01379
Originator: SJS 2571/278-00 ~ ø-~
Sl~bject: CONTAMINATED REMAINS, ~
HANDLING OF --5S
_on Agency: J-4
Coordinating Agency: J-l
ARMY
Action Assigned Day: 24
Action Assigned Hour: 2130
Action Assigned Month: JAN
Action Assigned Year: 91
Suspense Day: 27
Suspense Hour: 2000
Suspense Month: JAN
Suspense Year: 91
Available Field:
Keyword Field:
Implementer: MEMO
Implementer Day: 00
Implementer Hour: 0000
Implementer Month:
Implementer Year: 00
Classification:
Remarks: PRODUCE MEMO FOR VDJS REPLY WITH COMMENT
OR CONCURRENCE ON THE DEPT OF ARMY PLAN
FOR HANDLING CONTAMINATED REMAINS.
ID: CA3
CURRENT DATE: 01/24/91
TTME OF DAY: 16:28
~TION ID: CA3
~TION DATE: 01/24/91
CREATION TIME: 16:28
SJS 2571/278-00
24 January 1991 DISTRIBUTION B PLUS
J-4(3),CAT(5)
SECRETARY, JOINT STAFF DIRECTIVE
on
HANDLING OF CONTAMINATED REMAINS
DESERT STORM
1. This is a CAT action referred to J-4 for VDJS Reply.
2. The suspense date for this action is 28 January 1991.
Joint Secretariat
UNCLASSIFIED WITHOUT ATTACHMENT
DUE TO SENSITIVITY OF INFORMATION,
DISTRIBUTION SHOULD BE LIMITED
SJS 2571/278-00
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY WASHINgTON, dc 20310-5200
24 J A N 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR VICE DIRECTOR, JOINT STAFF
SUBJECT: Handl ing of Contaminated Remains ~ ~
1. Purpose. To provide procedures on the handling of
chemically/biologically contaminated fatalities as a portion of
overall graves registration operations.
2. Discussion.
a. The Quartermaster School is the proponent for
handling of deceased personnel. Much of the information provided
is either contained in Field Manual 10-63, Handling of Deceased
Personnel in Theaters of Operations, FMFM 4-8, AFM 143-3, or from
their doctrine office. Also, the following information should be
available in Corps Standing Operating Procedures (SOP).
b. According to AR 638-30, the Army policy is the
recovery, evacuation and interment of all contaminated human
remains. However, it does not specify that we will repatriate
human remains prior to final interment. Repatriation of
contaminated remains present Theater commanders with unique
legal, moral and safety challenges .
c. Chapter 8, FM 10-63 provides minimal guidance on
handling of contaminated remains. Transportation and repatriation
is not addressed. Listed below is an overview of existing
doctrine combined with several additional recommendations on how
contaminated remains should be handled forward of GRREG points:
(l) The recovery, evacuation, preliminary
identification and interment of deceased military personnel (and
civilians under Armed Forces jurisdicti'on) is a command
respons ib i 1 ity .
(2) Battalion sized units should form a search and
recovery team (S&R Team) responsible to locate, recover, identify
and evacuate remains. Trained Graves Registration (GRREG)
personnel, MOS 57F30, should be available for technical
assistance within the divisional support battalions, however,
their primary mission is the operation of divisional GRREG
po ints .
Ciassified BY multiple Sources
Declassify ON :, oadr
SUBJECT: Handling of Contaminated Remains
( 3 ) All remains and personal effects located in a
contaminated area are considered contaminated. S&R Teams will
tag these remains with standard contamination markers and place
in a Type II remains pouch. All S&R teams and GRREG personnel
will be in MOPP 4.
(4) Decontamination of contaminated remains is
METT-T dependent . I f the unit does not decontaminate, temporary
interment is near the recovery site at an uncontaminated location
using temporary interment procedures. Type I Human Remains
Pouches will be utilized for temporary interment for acceleration
of the natural decontamination process. When it becomes possible
to evacuate the remains (e.g., postcombat), an S&R Team will
locate the temporary interment site using the global positioning
system or the best surveying equipment available, disinter the
remains, decontaminate and evacuate to a GRREG collection point .
Remains will be temporarily interred until they can be safely
disinterred, decontaminated, marked and placed in a Type II
remains pouch and evacuated to a GRREG point for transportation.
(5) Guidance for determining the effectiveness of
decontamination is found in Department of Defense Regulation
6055 . 9-5TD, Army Regulation 385-64, Department of the Army PAM
385-61, and TRADOC Regulation 385-1. These regulations state
that there are three levels of decontamination: X, 3X, and 5X .
To repatriate any materiel to CONUS requires decontamination to
the 3X level if the item is to remain in government control, and
5X level to be released from government control without
restrictions . For human remains, 5X is achievable only by
cremation at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
Decontamination to the 3X level will be addressed in the
procedures section.
3. Procedures. The following procedures discuss handling
of contaminated remains and decontamination to the 3X/5X level.
a. For mass fatality situations exceeding S&R Team
capabilities, alternate GRREG procedures would be required .
Battalion S&R Teams would only have the capability under mass
fatality situations of minimal preparation of contaminated
remains for transportation to a specific GRREG collection point.
Minimal preparation would be identification of remains and
placement of remains in a type II human remains pouch. A
decision may be necessary to temporarily inter contaminated
Reply ZIP Code: DJSM-148-91
20318-0300 5 Fehruary 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ARMY DEPUTY OPERATIONS DEPUTY
Subject: Handling of Contaminated Remains
1. Thank you for the Army support on this complicated and
sensitive topic. I have forwarded your 24 January draft*
procedures and recommendations for handling contaminated remains
to the Director for Logistics (J-4).
2. The J-4 representative to the Army-run Central Joint
Mortuary Affairs Office (CJMAO) has incorporated your package
into draft joint procedures that are being coordinated
throughout the Joint Staff and with the Services. As soon as
the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, provides his thoughts on
temporary interment, PAO guidance, and coordination with the
Saudis, we will forward the coordinated action to the CJMAO for
decision.
3. The Joint Staff point of contact is Lieutenant Colonel
[exemption (B)(6)] ,
5ENE A. DEEGAN
Major 5eneral, USMC
Vice Director, Joint Staff
Reference:
* Army Deputy Operations Deputy memorandum, 24 January 1991,
"Handling of Contaminated Remains"
Classified by Director, J-4
Declassify on OADR
CONTROL NUMBER
ROUTING ~ COORDINATION COVER SHEET 2571/278-00
1723J DATE RECEIVED
RETURN TO: ADMIN SUPPORT BRANCH, SJS, 2E929, THE PENTAGON Rivera 4 February 1991
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DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION DATE OF DOCUMENT
SUBJECT
VDJS Memorandum to Army DEPOPDEPl (U) (SOA 1379)
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CIRCULATION OF THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE TO INDIVIDUALS INDICATED BELOW. THE DOCUMENT WILL BE RETURNED TO THE
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE FOR DISPATCH OR FILING. THIS FORM SHOULD NOr BE REMOVED FROM SUBJECT DOCUMENT.
TO NAME INITIAL COMMEIITS
CHAIRMAN, JCS øø
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 001
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 001A
VICE CHAIRMAN, JCS 01
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO VICE 011
CHAIRMAN, .ICS
ASSISTANT TO THE o
CHAIRMAN JCS 2
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 021
CHAlRMAh'S STAFF GROUP ~ G' ,~ 1
LEGAL COUNSEL 02E ~ ' ~j .r~
LEGISLATIVE ASST 02F ;j
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PROTOCOL oo3 ~ t
CIVILIAN SPECIAL ASSISTANT 004 /~Z~
/ ~G C-~ ~
SPECIAL ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS 005
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR 000
DIRECTOR, JT STAFF 03 ,; J
EA TO THE DJS 031
,~ VICE DIRECTOR, JT STAFF
EA TO THE VDJS 041 ~ 7j~
SECRETARY, JT STAFF ~lS' ø5
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ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT BR 051
JS-OCJCS FORM 2 Previous Editions Obsolete
SEP 90
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