H.R. 10485: Minuteman III Health and Safety Act

This bill would require the Department of Defense to arrange for an independent review of health and safety conditions at facilities connected to the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system. The review would be carried out through an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

What the review would cover

• An independent look at the methods and conclusions of the Air Force’s “Missile Community Cancer Study.”
• A separate assessment of workplace hazards and toxic exposures at Minuteman III facilities, including issues related to enclosed spaces, ventilation, and limited fresh air.
• A study comparing cancer rates among Minuteman III launch officers and support staff with a similar group of Air Force personnel not working on the Minuteman III system.
• A review of how well older and current environmental monitoring methods detect hazards such as air quality problems, drinking water or groundwater contamination, particulate buildup, and contamination in confined work areas.
• An evaluation of how well the Air Force’s safety policies, equipment, and technologies prevent hazards and reduce exposure, including protective equipment, engineering controls, and environmental monitoring.
• An evaluation of medical screening, testing, and reporting practices for personnel who may have been exposed to hazards or toxic substances.

Expected recommendations and follow-up

The review would also be expected to make recommendations on two broad areas:

• What the Department of Defense should do to make sure health and safety conditions at these facilities meet current workplace safety and national security requirements, including for the future Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile system.
• Whether the current design or operation of the Minuteman III system, and the future design or operation of the Sentinel system, should be changed to better address health and safety concerns.

Access to information

The Secretary of Defense would have to provide the reviewing experts with the information and security clearances they need to complete the work.

Report deadline

Within 18 months after enactment, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine would have to send a report of its findings to the congressional defense committees. The report would be unclassified, but it could include a classified annex.

Definitions used in the bill

The bill defines the facilities covered by the review as Minuteman III-related structures and work areas such as launch control facilities, launch facilities, missile alert facilities, and other related sites. It also gives a broad definition of “covered toxic substances,” including asbestos, radiation, PCBs, combustion byproducts, VOCs, radon, certain fuels and chemicals, pesticides, noise, and other related hazards.

Relevant Companies

None found