Chemical warfare design center sets up hot line

Published June 10, 2013
The Huntsville Center Chemical Warfare Materiel (CWM) Design Center established a new hot line for agencies to use if they need assistance with potential CWM issues. According to Chuck Twing, CWM Design Center chief, the phone line and voice mail is primarily for after duty hours situations.
The CWM design center’s mission is to serve as the single executing agency for the investigation and recovery of chemical warfare materiel for the Department of Defense. They also serve as the advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment (ASA-IEE) for execution policy on CWM issues. Their customer includes all the Services and particularly other USACE Divisions and Districts, supporting active installations, Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) and Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS). Chemical Warfare Materiel is defined by the DoD as “generally configured as a munition containing a chemical compound that is intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate a person through its physiological effects.”
The CWM Design Center has worked around the world in the performance of its mission. It is often contacted when suspect liquid filled munitions are found by accident or during planned conventional munitions investigations or removal actions. Since the CWM Design Center has a worldwide mission, calls could literally come in any hour of the day. Callers can leave messages or the voice mail will direct them to the individual cell phone numbers for key personnel to contact for immediate action.
The hot line number is (256) 895-1598. For questions or more information you can contact Chuck Twing at (256) 895-1543 or charles.l.twing@usace.army.mil

Release no. 13-031