(b) decontamination techniques

Still pending however, were the decontamination of the island of Vieques and the devolution of a former shooting range to the local authorities.

All three laboratories reported the presence of a decontamination compound, and one laboratory identified a possible degradation product of a nerve agent, but not necessarily VX.

Iraq was well aware of the possibility of inspectors taking samples and tried to remove any traces of the agent by thorough decontamination of the facilities.

The soil and coastal waters of the island polluted by substances such as lead, depleted uranium and arsenic, whose presence was a serious threat to public health needed urgent decontamination.

Contamination from toxic military waste, including depleted uranium, was a serious problem in Vieques and the draft resolution should require that the United States Government should fully cover the decontamination costs.

The areas that, after decontamination, should be given back to the people of Vieques were still under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior.

Wide availability of affordable condoms and drugs for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases is recommended, and action to control the quality of blood products and equipment decontamination is stressed (para.

The international community should clearly express its indignation over the island's current situation and require the decontamination of the areas in question, their restitution to the population of Vieques and the economic development of the island in accordance with the wishes of its population.

In the course of their work, they have assessed the medical and ecological consequences of the disaster, determined the needs of the affected population in terms of information and formulated practical recommendations regarding the decontamination of soil polluted with radionuclides and the provision of medical assistance to the affected population.

Noting the consensus existing among the people and the Government of Puerto Rico on the necessity of ensuring the decontamination, and return to the people of Puerto Rico of all the territory previously used for military exercises and installations, and of using them for the social and economic development of Puerto Rico,

A chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence unit is being organized within the Army Corps of Engineers to carry out defence, protection and decontamination in the event of either terrorist acts using weapons of mass destruction or serious chemical accidents, where the normal systems for responding to such emergencies may be overwhelmed.