ON THE STREET

1. American children in South Korea get new protective masks. The threat of attack from North Korea makes for some unique provisions for US service members and their families living in South Korea. They must keep on hand new child-friendly protective masks which are being issued by US authorities. The new model, sized for children 8 and younger, looks like a space suit.
2. Israel to issue Gas Masks to entire population. Beginning in February 2010, the Israeli Government will issue each citizen the same rubber gas mask they had in the past but with an improved filter that is more effective against various CB threats, but without the syringe of atropine that was in previous kits. Children up to 8 years of age will be receiving a new gas mask, dubbed the Mamtek, which is being distributed for the first time. According to Israeli authorities, "We are the only country in the world that produces gas masks for children, and the children's gas mask we produce is the only one in the world that supplies prime defense for this age group"
3. A spokesperson for the US Assembled Chemical Weapons Program with plants at the Pueblo Chemical Depot and Blue Grass Army Depot said they will be the last to close "2012 is not achievable for Pueblo and Blue Grass under any circumstances or funding profile". True.
        ASA has long had closure issues with the US Demil Program and its leadership making pronouncements which were based on faulty premises rather than easily understood hard facts. And ASA pointed this out in writing, many, many times. Unfortunately the Demil Program pronouncements led our congressional leaders to make promises to constituents that in "no way" could be kept. Perhaps it is time for each congressional member to say "no way" to a continuing charade of misinformation. Not only is 2012 not achievable but 2017 is very, very questionable. And lastly, by trying to expedite the US Demil Program without a well thought out plan of action and without long-term responsible personnel at the helm, the US Demil Program is risking accidents. As Colorado and Kentucky citizen councils have stated loud and clear - they do not want an accident, especially a CW accident, in their backyard.
4. ASA Newsletter "Recent Contracts" listing. Beginning with ASA issue 10-1, issue #136 (Vol. 24), our web manager and executive editor, Evan Saunders, will place on an ASA Newsletter web site for ASA subscribers, the complete "Recent Contracts" listing. This fully searchable Recent Contracts listing will remain on the web and will be added to with each subsequent ASA Newsletter issue. The web key will be provided to each paid subscriber with each issue.
5. ASA Newsletter 10-1, 26 February 2010. Dr. Barbara Price will again analyze the general CBR contract data - and this analysis will be for the complete CY2009.

For the Professional in Government and Industry with an interest in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense, Disarmament and Verification; Emergency and Disaster Medical Planning; Industrial Health and Safety; and Environmental Protection