Re: Biological Warfare Agents

[Pam Miller <acat@akcf.org>]

Dear Jeanne Rosen,

Fort Greely was used for the testing of Bacillus globigii from 1963-65.
Other areas of central AK were used for testing of Bacillus globigii and
ZnCdS simulants (reference: U.S. Army Activity in the U.S. Biological
Warfare Programs, Volume II, 24 February 1977 Unclassified.)

The Gerstle River Army Test Site was used for cold weather dissemination
testing of GB and VX munitions as part of the Arctic Environmental
Surveillance Program on Chemical Corps material from 1954-62. HE 155mm
howitzer shells were also fired into the aspen and spruce forests. The
biological and chemical tests conducted on Gerstle River Test Site began
with "Whistle Down" Dec. 6, 1962-Feb.5 1963 using VX and GB. Other tests
used the following: HE, BG-1 and 2, F100 and F105, SM, TT, EC, A/B 45Y-1,
ZZ. The tests apparently ended in 1967. (Reference "Installation Assessment
of Gerstle River Test Site Records Evaluation Report no. 105 Volume 1,
December 1976, Department of the Army, Office of the Project Manager for
Chemical Demilitarization and Installation Restoration, Aberdeen Proving
Ground.").

Pamela K. Miller, Program Director
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
135 Christensen Drive, Suite 100
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 222-7714 Phone
(907) 222-7715 Fax