Biological and Chemical Weapons
Public Law 104-201
TITLE XIV--DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (excerpted)
Sec. 1401. Short title.
Sec. 1402. Findings.
Sec. 1403. Definitions.
Subtitle A--Domestic Preparedness
Sec. 1411. Response to threats of terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction.
Sec. 1412. Emergency response assistance program.
Sec. 1413. Nuclear, chemical, and biological emergency response.
Sec. 1414. Chemical-biological emergency response team.
Sec. 1415. Testing of preparedness for emergencies involving nuclear,
radiological, chemical, and biological weapons.
Sec. 1416. Military assistance to civilian law enforcement officials in
emergency situations involving biological or chemical
weapons.
Sec. 1417. Rapid response information system.
SEC. 1401. <<NOTE: 50 USC 2301 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Defense Against Weapons of Mass
Destruction Act of 1996''.
SEC. 1402. <<NOTE: 50 USC 2301 note.>> FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Weapons of mass destruction and related materials and
technologies are increasingly available from worldwide sources.
Technical information relating to such weapons is readily
available on the Internet, and raw materials for chemical,
biological, and radiological weapons are widely available for
legitimate commercial purposes.
(2) The former Soviet Union produced and maintained a vast
array of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons of mass
destruction.
(3) Many of the states of the former Soviet Union retain the
facilities, materials, and technologies capable of producing
additional quantities of weapons of mass destruction.
(4) The disintegration of the former Soviet Union was
accompanied by disruptions of command and control systems,
deficiencies in accountability for weapons, weapons-related
materials and technologies, economic hardships, and significant
gaps in border control among the states of the former Soviet
Union. The problems of organized crime and corruption in the
states of the former Soviet Union increase the potential for
proliferation of nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical
weapons and related materials.
(5) The conditions described in paragraph (4) have
substantially increased the ability of potentially hostile
nations, terrorist groups, and individuals to acquire weapons of
mass destruction and related materials and technologies from
within the states of the former Soviet Union and from unemployed
scientists who worked on those programs.
(6) As a result of such conditions, the capability of
potentially hostile nations and terrorist groups to acquire
nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical weapons is
greater than at any time in history.
(7) The President has identified North Korea, Iraq, Iran,
and Libya as hostile states which already possess some weapons
of mass destruction and are developing others.
(8) The acquisition or the development and use of weapons of
mass destruction is well within the capability of many extremist
and terrorist movements, acting independently or as proxies for
foreign states.
(9) Foreign states can transfer weapons to or otherwise aid
extremist and terrorist movements indirectly and with plausible
deniability.
(10) Terrorist groups have already conducted chemical
attacks against civilian targets in the United States and Japan,
and a radiological attack in Russia.
(11) The potential for the national security of the United
States to be threatened by nuclear, radiological, chemical, or
biological terrorism must be taken seriously.
(12) There is a significant and growing threat of attack by
weapons of mass destruction on targets that are not military
targets in the usual sense of the term.
(13) Concomitantly, the threat posed to the citizens of the
United States by nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical
weapons delivered by unconventional means is significant and
growing.
(14) Mass terror may result from terrorist incidents
involving nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical
materials.
(15) Facilities required for production of radiological,
biological, and chemical weapons are much smaller and harder to
detect than nuclear weapons facilities, and biological and
chemical weapons can be deployed by alternative delivery means
other than long-range ballistic missiles.
(16) Covert or unconventional means of delivery of nuclear,
radiological, biological, and chemical weapons include cargo
ships, passenger aircraft, commercial and private vehicles and
vessels, and commercial cargo shipments routed through multiple
destinations.
(17) Traditional arms control efforts assume large state
efforts with detectable manufacturing programs and weapons
production programs, but are ineffective in monitoring and
controlling smaller, though potentially more dangerous,
unconventional proliferation efforts.
(18) Conventional counterproliferation efforts would do
little to detect or prevent the rapid development of a
capability to suddenly manufacture several hundred chemical or
biological weapons with nothing but commercial supplies and
equipment.
(19) The United States lacks adequate planning and
countermeasures to address the threat of nuclear, radiological,
biological, and chemical terrorism.
(20) The Department of Energy has established a Nuclear
Emergency Response Team which is available in case of nuclear or
radiological emergencies, but no comparable units exist to deal
with emergencies involving biological or chemical weapons or
related materials.
(21) State and local emergency response personnel are not
adequately prepared or trained for incidents involving nuclear,
radiological, biological, or chemical materials.
(22) Exercises of the Federal, State, and local response to
nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical terrorism have
revealed serious deficiencies in preparedness and severe
problems of coordination.
(23) The development of, and allocation of responsibilities
for, effective countermeasures to nuclear, radiological,
biological, or chemical terrorism in the United States requires
well-coordinated participation of many Federal agencies, and
careful planning by the Federal Government and State and local
governments.
(24) Training and exercises can significantly improve the
preparedness of State and local emergency response personnel
for emergencies involving nuclear, radiological, biological, or
chemical weapons or related materials.
(25) Sharing of the expertise and capabilities of the
Department of Defense, which traditionally has provided
assistance to Federal, State, and local officials in
neutralizing, dis- mantling, and disposing of explosive
ordnance, as well as radiological, biological, and chemical
materials, can be a vital contribution to the development and
deployment of countermeasures against nuclear, biological, and
chemical weapons of mass destruction.
(26) The United States lacks effective policy coordination
regarding the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction.
SEC. 1403. <<NOTE: 50 USC 2302.>> DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) The term ``weapon of mass destruction'' means any weapon
or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause
death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people
through the release, dissemination, or impact of--
(A) toxic or poisonous chemicals or their
precursors;
(B) a disease organism; or
(C) radiation or radioactivity.
(2) The term ``independent states of the former Soviet
Union'' has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the
FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5801).
(3) The term ``highly enriched uranium'' means uranium
enriched to 20 percent or more in the isotope U-235.
Subtitle A--Domestic Preparedness
SEC. 1411. RESPONSE <<NOTE: President. 50 USC 2311.>> TO THREATS
OF TERRORIST USE OF WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
(a) Enhanced Response Capability.--In light of the potential for
terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction against the United States,
the President shall take immediate action--
(1) to enhance the capability of the Federal Government to
prevent and respond to terrorist incidents involving weapons of
mass destruction; and
(2) to provide enhanced support to improve the capabilities
of State and local emergency response agencies to prevent and
respond to such incidents at both the national and the local
level.
(b) Report Required.--Not later than January 31, 1997, the President
shall transmit to Congress a report containing--
(1) an assessment of the capabilities of the Federal
Government to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents
involving weapons of mass destruction and to support State and
local prevention and response efforts;
(2) requirements for improvements in those cap- abilities;
and
(3) the measures that should be taken to achieve such
improvements, including additional resources and legislative
authorities that would be required.
[[Page 110 STAT. 2718]]
SEC. 1412. <<NOTE: 50 USC 2312.>> EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
(a) Program Required.--(1) The Secretary of Defense shall carry out
a program to provide civilian personnel of Federal, State, and local
agencies with training and expert advice regarding emergency responses
to a use or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or related
materials.
(2) The President may designate the head of an agency other than the
Department of Defense to assume the responsibility for carrying out the
program on or after October 1, 1999, and relieve the Secretary of
Defense of that responsibility upon the assumption of the responsibility
by the designated official.
(3) In this section, the official responsible for carrying out the
program is referred to as the ``lead official''.
(b) Coordination.--In carrying out the program, the lead official
shall coordinate with each of the following officials who is not serving
as the lead official:
(1) The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(2) The Secretary of Energy.
(3) The Secretary of Defense.
(4) The heads of any other Federal, State, and local
government agencies that have an expertise or responsibilities
relevant to emergency responses described in subsection (a)(1).
(c) Eligible Participants.--The civilian personnel eligible to
receive assistance under the program are civilian personnel of Federal,
State, and local agencies who have emergency preparedness
responsibilities.
(d) Involvement of Other Federal Agencies.--(1) The lead official
may use personnel and capabilities of Federal agencies outside the
agency of the lead official to provide training and expert advice under
the program.
(2)(A) Personnel used under paragraph (1) shall be personnel who
have special skills relevant to the particular assistance that the
personnel are to provide.
(B) Capabilities used under paragraph (1) shall be capabilities that
are especially relevant to the particular assistance for which the
capabilities are used.
(3) If the lead official is not the Secretary of Defense, and
requests assistance from the Department of Defense that, in the judgment
of the Secretary of Defense would affect military readiness or adversely
affect national security, the Secretary of Defense may appeal the
request for Department of Defense assistance by the lead official to the
President.
(e) Available Assistance.--Assistance available under this program
shall include the following:
(1) Training in the use, operation, and maintenance of
equipment for--
(A) detecting a chemical or biological agent or
nuclear radiation;
(B) monitoring the presence of such an agent or
radiation;
(C) protecting emergency personnel and the public;
and
(D) decontamination.
(2) Establishment of a designated telephonic link (commonly
referred to as a ``hot line'') to a designated source of
relevant data and expert advice for the use of State or local
[[Page 110 STAT. 2719]]
officials responding to emergencies involving a weapon of mass
destruction or related materials.
(3) Use of the National Guard and other reserve components
for purposes authorized under this section that are specified by
the lead official (with the concurrence of the Secretary of
Defense if the Secretary is not the lead official).
(4) Loan of appropriate equipment.
(f) Limitations on Department of Defense Assistance to Law
Enforcement Agencies.--Assistance provided by the Department of Defense
to law enforcement agencies under this section shall be provided under
the authority of, and subject to the restrictions provided in, chapter
18 of title 10, United States Code.
(g) Administration of Department of Defense Assistance.--The
Secretary of Defense shall designate an official within the Department
of Defense to serve as the executive agent of the Secretary for the
coordination of the provision of Department of Defense assistance under
this section.
(h) Funding.--(1) Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated
under section 301, $35,000,000 is available for the program required
under this section.
(2) Of the amount available for the program pursuant to paragraph
(1), $10,500,000 is available for use by the Secretary of Defense to
assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the establishment
of metropolitan emergency medical response teams (commonly referred to
as ``Metropolitan Medical Strike Force Teams'') to provide medical
services that are necessary or potentially necessary by reason of a use
or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction.
(3) The amount available for the program under paragraph (1) is in
addition to any other amounts authorized to be appropriated for the
program under section 301.
SEC. 1413. NUCLEAR, <<NOTE: 50 USC 2313.>> CHEMICAL, AND
BIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
(a) Department of Defense.--The Secretary of Defense shall designate
an official within the Department of Defense as the executive agent
for--
(1) the coordination of Department of Defense assistance to
Federal, State, and local officials in responding to threats
involving biological or chemical weapons or related materials or
technologies, including assistance in identifying, neutralizing,
dismantling, and disposing of biological and chemical weapons
and related materials and technologies; and
(2) the coordination of Department of Defense assistance to
the Department of Energy in carrying out that department's
responsibilities under subsection (b).
(b) Department of Energy.--The Secretary of Energy shall designate
an official within the Department of Energy as the executive agent for--
(1) the coordination of Department of Energy assistance to
Federal, State, and local officials in responding to threats
involving nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons or related
materials or technologies, including assistance in identifying,
neutralizing, dismantling, and disposing of nuclear weapons and
related materials and technologies; and
(2) the coordination of Department of Energy assistance to
the Department of Defense in carrying out that department's
responsibilities under subsection (a).
(c) Funding.--Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated
under section 301, $15,000,000 is available for providing assistance
described in subsection (a).
SEC. 1414. CHEMICAL-BIOLOGICAL <<NOTE: 50 USC 2314.>> EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM.
(a) Department of Defense Rapid Response Team.--The Secretary of
Defense shall develop and maintain at least one domestic terrorism rapid
response team composed of members of the Armed Forces and employees of
the Department of Defense who are capable of aiding Federal, State, and
local officials in the detection, neutralization, containment,
dismantlement, and disposal of weapons of mass destruction containing
chemical, biological, or related materials.
(b) Addition to Federal Response Plan.--Not later than December 31,
1997, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall
develop and incorporate into existing Federal emergency response plans
and programs prepared under section 611(b) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196(b))
guidance on the use and deployment of the rapid response teams
established under this section to respond to emergencies involving
weapons of mass destruction. The Director shall carry out this
subsection in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the heads
of other Federal agencies involved with the emergency response plans.
SEC. 1415. TESTING <<NOTE: 50 USC 2315.>> OF PREPAREDNESS FOR
EMERGENCIES INVOLVING NUCLEAR,
RADIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS.
(a) Emergencies Involving Chemical or Biological Weapons.--(1) The
Secretary of Defense shall develop and carry out a program for testing
and improving the responses of Federal, State, and local agencies to
emergencies involving biological weapons and related materials and
emergencies involving chemical weapons and related materials.
(2) The program shall include exercises to be carried out during
each of five successive fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1997.
(3) In developing and carrying out the program, the Secretary shall
coordinate with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secretary of
Energy, and the heads of any other Federal, State, and local government
agencies that have an expertise or responsibilities relevant to
emergencies described in paragraph (1).
(b) Emergencies Involving Nuclear and Radiological Weapons.--(1) The
Secretary of Energy shall develop and carry out a program for testing
and improving the responses of Federal, State, and local agencies to
emergencies involving nuclear and radiological weapons and related
materials.
(2) The program shall include exercises to be carried out during
each of five successive fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1997.
(3) In developing and carrying out the program, the Secretary shall
coordinate with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secretary of
Defense, and the heads of any other Federal, State, and local government
agencies that have an exper tise or responsibilities relevant to emergencies
described in paragraph (1).
(c) Annual Revisions of Programs.--The official responsible for
carrying out a program developed under subsection (a) or (b) shall
revise the program not later than June 1 in each fiscal year covered by
the program. The revisions shall include adjustments that the official
determines necessary or appropriate on the basis of the lessons learned
from the exercise or exercises carried out under the program in the
fiscal year, including lessons learned regarding coordination problems
and equipment deficiencies.
(d) Option To Transfer Responsibility.--(1) The President may
designate the head of an agency outside the Department of Defense to
assume the responsibility for carrying out the program developed under
subsection (a) beginning on or after October 1, 1999, and relieve the
Secretary of Defense of that responsibility upon the assumption of the
responsibility by the designated official.
(2) The President may designate the head of an agency outside the
Department of Energy to assume the responsibility for carrying out the
program developed under subsection (b) beginning on or after October 1,
1999, and relieve the Secretary of Energy of that responsibility upon
the assumption of the responsibility by the designated official.
(e) Funding.--Of the total amount authorized to be appropriated
under section 301, $15,000,000 is available for the
development and execution of the programs required by this section,
including the participation of State and local agencies in exercises
carried out under the programs.
SEC. 1416. MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
INVOLVING BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL
WEAPONS.
(a) Assistance Authorized.--(1) Chapter 18 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 382. Emergency situations involving chemical or biological
weapons of mass destruction
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, upon the request of the
Attorney General, may provide assistance in support of Department of
Justice activities relating to the enforcement of section 175 or 2332c
of title 18 during an emergency situation involving a biological or
chemical weapon of mass destruction. Department of Defense resources,
including personnel of the Department of Defense, may be used to provide
such assistance if--
``(1) the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General
jointly determine that an emergency situation exists; and
``(2) the Secretary of Defense determines that the provision
of such assistance will not adversely affect the military
preparedness of the United States.
``(b) Emergency Situations Covered.--In this section, the term
`emergency situation involving a biological or chemical weapon of mass
destruction' means a circumstance involving a biological or chemical
weapon of mass destruction--
``(1) that poses a serious threat to the interests of the
United States; and
``(2) in which--
``(A) civilian expertise and capabilities are not
readily available to provide the required assistance to
counter the threat immediately posed by the weapon
involved;
``(B) special capabilities and expertise of the
Department of Defense are necessary and critical to
counter the threat posed by the weapon involved; and
``(C) enforcement of section 175 or 2332c of title
18 would be seriously impaired if the Department of
Defense assistance were not provided.
``(c) Forms of Assistance.--The assistance referred to in subsection
(a) includes the operation of equipment (including equipment made
available under section 372 of this title) to monitor, contain, disable,
or dispose of the weapon involved or elements of the weapon.
``(d) Regulations.--(1) The Secretary of Defense and the Attorney
General shall jointly prescribe regulations concerning the types of
assistance that may be provided under this section. Such regulations
shall also describe the actions that Department of Defense personnel may
take in circumstances incident to the provision of assistance under this
section.
``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the regulations may
not authorize the following actions:
``(i) Arrest.
``(ii) Any direct participation in conducting a search for
or seizure of evidence related to a violation of section 175 or
2332c of title 18.
``(iii) Any direct participation in the collection of
intelligence for law enforcement purposes.
``(B) The regulations may authorize an action described in
subparagraph (A) to be taken under the following conditions:
``(i) The action is considered necessary for the immediate
protection of human life, and civilian law enforcement officials
are not capable of taking the action.
``(ii) The action is otherwise authorized under subsection
(c) or under otherwise applicable law.
``(e) Reimbursements.--The Secretary of Defense shall require
reimbursement as a condition for providing assistance under this section
to the extent required under section 377 of this title.
``(f) Delegations of Authority.--(1) Except to the extent otherwise
provided by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense
may exercise the authority of the Secretary of Defense under this
section. The Secretary of Defense may delegate the Secretary's authority
under this section only to an Under Secretary of Defense or an Assistant
Secretary of Defense and only if the Under Secretary or Assistant
Secretary to whom delegated has been designated by the Secretary to act
for, and to exercise the general powers of, the Secretary.
``(2) Except to the extent otherwise provided by the Attorney
General, the Deputy Attorney General may exercise the authority of the
Attorney General under this section. The Attorney General may delegate
that authority only to the Associate Attorney General or an Assistant
Attorney General and only if the Associate Attorney General or Assistant
Attorney General to whom delegated has been designated by the Attorney
General to act for, and to exercise the general powers of, the Attorney
General.
``(g) Relationship to Other Authority.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to restrict any executive branch authority
regarding use of members of the armed forces or equipment of the
Department of Defense that was in effect before the date of the
enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
1997.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``382. Emergency situations involving chemical or biological weapons of
mass destruction.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment to Condition for Providing Equipment and
Facilities.--Section 372(b)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The
requirement for a determination that an item is not reasonably available
from another source does not apply to assistance provided under section
382 of this title pursuant to a request of the Attorney General for the
assistance.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments Relating to Authority To Request
Assistance.--(1)(A) Chapter 10 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 175 the following new section:
``Sec. 175a. Requests for military assistance to enforce
prohibition in certain emergencies
``The Attorney General may request the Secretary of Defense to
provide assistance under section 382 of title 10 in support of
Department of Justice activities relating to the enforcement of section
175 of this title in an emergency situation involving a biological
weapon of mass destruction. The authority to make such a request may be
exercised by another official of the Department of Justice in accordance
with section 382(f)(2) of title 10.''.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 175 the
following new item:
``175a. Requests for military assistance to enforce prohibition in
certain emergencies.''.
(2)(A) The chapter 133B of title 18, United States Code, that
relates to terrorism is amended by inserting after section 2332c the
following new section:
``Sec. 2332d. Requests for military assistance to enforce
prohibition in certain emergencies
``The Attorney General may request the Secretary of Defense to
provide assistance under section 382 of title 10 in support of
Department of Justice activities relating to the enforcement of section
2332c of this title during an emergency situation involving a chemical
weapon of mass destruction. The authority to make such a request may be
exercised by another official of the Department of Justice in accordance
with section 382(f)(2) of title 10.''.
(B) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2332c the
following new item:
``2332d. Requests for military assistance to enforce prohibition in
certain emergencies.''.
(d) Civilian <<NOTE: President. 50 USC 2316.>> Expertise.--The
President shall take reasonable measures to reduce the reliance of
civilian law enforcement officials on Department of Defense resources to
counter the threat posed by the use or potential use of biological and
chemical weapons
[[Page 110 STAT. 2724]]
of mass destruction within the United States. The measures shall
include--
(1) actions to increase civilian law enforcement expertise
to counter such a threat; and
(2) actions to improve coordination between civilian law
enforcement officials and other civilian sources of expertise,
within and outside the Federal Government, to counter such a
threat.
(e) Reports.--The <<NOTE: 50 USC 2316.>> President shall submit to
Congress the following reports:
(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, a report describing the respective policy functions
and operational roles of Federal agencies in countering the
threat posed by the use or potential use of biological and
chemical weapons of mass destruction within the United States.
(2) Not later than one year after such date, a report
describing--
(A) the actions planned to be taken to carry out
subsection (d); and
(B) the costs of such actions.
(3) Not later than three years after such date, a report
updating the information provided in the reports submitted
pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), including the measures taken
pursuant to subsection (d).
SEC. 1417. <<NOTE: 50 USC 2317.>> RAPID RESPONSE INFORMATION SYSTEM.
(a) Inventory of Rapid Response Assets.--(1) The head of each
Federal Response Plan agency shall develop and maintain an inventory of
physical equipment and assets under the jurisdiction of that agency that
could be made available to aid State and local officials in search and
rescue and other disaster management and mitigation efforts associated
with an emergency involving weapons of mass destruction. The agency head
shall submit a copy of the inventory, and any updates of the inventory,
to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for inclusion
in the master inventory required under subsection (b).
(2) Each inventory shall include a separate listing of any equipment
that is excess to the needs of that agency and could be considered for
disposal as excess or surplus property for use for response and training
with regard to emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction.
(b) Master Inventory.--The Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall compile and maintain a comprehensive listing of
all inventories prepared under subsection (a). The first such master
list shall be completed not later than December 31, 1997, and shall be
updated annually thereafter.
(c) Addition to Federal Response Plan.--Not later than December 31,
1997, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall
develop and incorporate into existing Federal emergency response plans
and programs prepared under section 611(b) of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196(b))
guidance on accessing and using the physical equipment and assets
included in the master list developed under subsection to respond to
emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction.
(d) Database on Chemical and Biological Materials.--The Director of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, shall prepare a database on
chemical and biological agents and munitions characteristics and safety
precautions for civilian use. The initial design and compilation of the
database shall be completed not later than December 31, 1997.
(e) Access to Inventory and Database.--The Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency shall design and maintain a system to give
Federal, State, and local officials access to the inventory listing and
database maintained under this section in the event of an emergency
involving weapons of mass destruction or to prepare and train to respond
to such an emergency. The system shall include a secure but accessible emergency
response hotline to access information and request assistance.