Safety at the Navy's Seal Beach, CA, Weapons Station Has Improved

Gao ID: PLRD-83-87 June 10, 1983

In response to a congressional request, GAO evaluated safety at the Navy's Seal Beach Weapons Station to: review the Navy's actions to improve safety, address the surrounding community's major safety concerns about Seal Beach, and analyze the Navy's study of west coast ordnance activities.

GAO found that declining workloads have enabled Seal Beach to improve operating procedures for ordnance activities, thus improving safety, particularly in the wharf area. Regarding the community's safety concerns, GAO found that: (1) Seal Beach currently has no nuclear capabilities; (2) security at the facility appears satisfactory; (3) the Navy plans to upgrade those structures at the facility most vulnerable to earthquakes; (4) Seal Beach's air traffic hazards are no greater than those of other areas of southern California; (5) the facility is improving its management of hazardous materials; and (6) Seal Beach is increasing its disaster preparedness efforts. The Navy has not completed its study of west coast ordnance activities because of higher priority work. Instead, the Navy is contracting for a capital improvement and modernization study for all its ordnance activities.



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