Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices
Most Initiatives Supported by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Have Limited Applicability to Humanitarian Demining Gao ID: GAO-11-578R May 20, 2011Landmines and other explosive remnants of war cause thousands of casualties worldwide each year. Since 1993, the United States--through the Department of State's (State) Humanitarian Mine Action Program--has contributed funding to more than 80 countries, providing tens of millions of dollars annually to rid the world of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In 2006, to address the counter-improvised explosive device (IED) threat against U.S. military forces, the Department of Defense (DOD) established the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). Through fiscal year 2010, Congress has appropriated more than $17 billion to JIEDDO to quickly develop and field counter-IED solutions. In the committee report accompanying the House of Representatives' version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2011, the House Armed Services Committee directed that we review the applicability of JIEDDO initiatives to humanitarian demining efforts. To respond to the requirements of this mandate, we addressed the following questions: (1) What JIEDDO-supported technologies have DOD identified that could be applicable to humanitarian demining? and (2) To what extent does coordination occur (a) within DOD and (b) between DOD and State regarding JIEDDO-supported technologies that could be applicable to humanitarian demining?
DOD reviewed 150 JIEDDO-supported technologies and identified 6 that could potentially be applicable to humanitarian demining. However, 4 of the 6 technologies identified by DOD either duplicated those already being used or, because of technical issues, were not suitable for use in humanitarian demining. DOD plans to further review the other two technologies for possible use in humanitarian demining. In general, inherent differences between counter-IED and humanitarian demining operations limit the extent to which JIEDDO-supported technologies can be used in humanitarian demining. For example, in counter-IED operations, DOD's mission is to clear the affected area only to the extent that forces can mobilize safely. In humanitarian demining operations, the purpose is to clear the affected area of all (100 percent) landmines and other explosive remnants of war so that it can be used for civilian purposes, such as farming. Coordination mechanisms exist within DOD and between DOD and State regarding their efforts to determine whether JIEDDO-supported technologies could be applicable to humanitarian demining. Within DOD, the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense/Special Operations Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities/Stability Operations Capabilities (SOLIC) and the Humanitarian Demining Research & Development Program (HD R&D) use both formal and informal mechanisms to coordinate with other DOD offices about which off-the-shelf technologies are being developed or supported by JIEDDO that might be applicable to humanitarian demining. These mechanisms include attendance at weekly JIEDDO board meetings, participation in the Unexploded Ordnance Center of Excellence (UXOCOE) annual Resources Managers Meeting, and communication with DOD offices through e-mails and phone calls. To coordinate which off-the-shelf or JIEDDO-supported technologies might be applicable to humanitarian demining, DOD and State use informal coordination mechanisms--e.g., participation in the HD R&D Biennial Requirements Workshop and communication through e-mails and phone calls. Given the extent to which DOD and State regularly communicate, coupled with the limited applicability of counter- IED technologies to humanitarian demining, the level of coordination within DOD and between DOD and State appears to be adequate for identifying technologies applicable to humanitarian demining. We are not making recommendations in this report.
GAO-11-578R, Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices: Most Initiatives Supported by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Have Limited Applicability to Humanitarian Demining
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GAO-11-578R:
United States Government Accountability Office:
Washington, DC 20548:
May 20, 2011:
Congressional Committees:
Subject: Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices: Most Initiatives
Supported by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization
Have Limited Applicability to Humanitarian Demining:
Landmines and other explosive remnants of war cause thousands of
casualties worldwide each year. Since 1993, the United States--through
the Department of State's (State) Humanitarian Mine Action Program--
has contributed funding to more than 80 countries, providing tens of
millions of dollars annually to rid the world of landmines and other
explosive remnants of war. In 2006, to address the counter-improvised
explosive device (IED) threat against U.S. military forces, the
Department of Defense (DOD) established the Joint IED Defeat
Organization (JIEDDO). Through fiscal year 2010, Congress has
appropriated more than $17 billion to JIEDDO to quickly develop and
field counter-IED solutions.
In the committee report accompanying the House of Representatives'
version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year
2011, the House Armed Services Committee directed that we review the
applicability of JIEDDO initiatives to humanitarian demining efforts.
[Footnote 1] To respond to the requirements of this mandate, we
addressed the following questions: (1) What JIEDDO-supported
technologies has DOD identified that could be applicable to
humanitarian demining? and (2) To what extent does coordination occur
(a) within DOD and (b) between DOD and State regarding JIEDDO-
supported technologies that could be applicable to humanitarian
demining?
To conduct our work, we reviewed the information paper DOD presented
to Congress in August 2010 on the potential for applying JIEDDO-
supported technologies to humanitarian demining efforts. We also
analyzed State humanitarian demining-related policies and procedures
issued since 2002 and related DOD guidance issued since JIEDDO was
established in 2006. To understand the analysis and assumptions used
to prepare DOD's information paper, we conducted interviews with
officials from JIEDDO; DOD's Office of Assistant Secretary of
Defense/Special Operations Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent
Capabilities/Stability Operations Capabilities (SOLIC), OSD's lead
agency for DOD support of humanitarian mine actions; and DOD's
Humanitarian Demining Research & Development Program (HD R&D), which
focuses on the development, testing, demonstration, and validation of
technology for immediate use in humanitarian demining actions
worldwide. We also spoke with Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors
Directorate (NVESD) officials to review and understand the DOD-wide
database used to manage explosive hazards technology programs and
Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division officials
concerning current explosive ordnance disposal technologies. To
identify specific formal and informal coordination mechanisms used
within DOD and between DOD and State, we interviewed officials from
SOLIC; HD R&D; the Unexploded Ordnance Center of Excellence (UXOCOE),
which serves as the clearinghouse for information on DOD's explosive
hazards technology programs; NVESD; and State's Bureau of Political
Military Affairs' Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.
We conducted this performance audit from October 2010 through May 2011
in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe
that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
In summary, DOD reviewed 150 JIEDDO-supported technologies and
identified 6 that could potentially be applicable to humanitarian
demining. However, 4 of the 6 technologies identified by DOD either
duplicated those already being used or, because of technical issues,
were not suitable for use in humanitarian demining. DOD plans to
further review the other two technologies for possible use in
humanitarian demining. In general, inherent differences between
counter-IED and humanitarian demining operations limit the extent to
which JIEDDO-supported technologies can be used in humanitarian
demining. For example, in counter-IED operations, DOD's mission is to
clear the affected area only to the extent that forces can mobilize
safely. In humanitarian demining operations, the purpose is to clear
the affected area of all (100 percent) landmines and other explosive
remnants of war so that it can be used for civilian purposes, such as
farming.
Coordination mechanisms exist within DOD and between DOD and State
regarding their efforts to determine whether JIEDDO-supported
technologies could be applicable to humanitarian demining. Within DOD,
SOLIC and HD R&D use both formal and informal mechanisms to coordinate
with other DOD offices about which off-the-shelf technologies are
being developed or supported by JIEDDO that might be applicable to
humanitarian demining. These mechanisms include attendance at weekly
JIEDDO board meetings, participation in the UXOCOE annual Resources
Managers Meeting, and communication with DOD offices through e-mails
and phone calls. To coordinate which off-the-shelf or JIEDDO-supported
technologies might be applicable to humanitarian demining, DOD and
State use informal coordination mechanisms--e.g., participation in the
HD R&D Biennial Requirements Workshop and communication through e-
mails and phone calls. Given the extent to which DOD and State
regularly communicate, coupled with the limited applicability of
counter-IED technologies to humanitarian demining, the level of
coordination within DOD and between DOD and State appears to be
adequate for identifying technologies applicable to humanitarian
demining.
We are not making recommendations in this report.
Enclosure I contains briefing slides that provide additional details
regarding our findings. DOD and State did not provide written comments
on this report. However, after reviewing a draft of this report, DOD
officials agreed with its content and provided technical comments,
which we incorporated where appropriate. Similarly, State officials
said that our report was presented accurately but did not provide any
additional comments.
We are sending copies of this report to the appropriate congressional
committees. We are also sending copies to DOD and State. This report
will also be available at no charge on our Web site at [hyperlink,
http://www.gao.gov].
Should you or your staff have questions concerning this report, please
contact me at (202) 512-3863 or moranr@gao.gov. Contact points for our
Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found on
the last page of this report. Key contributors to this report were
Cary Russell, Assistant Director; Connie Sawyer, Jr.; Rebecca
Guerrero; Lonnie McAllister; and Mae Jones.
Signed by:
Revae Moran:
Acting Director, Defense Capabilities and Management:
Enclosure:
List of Committees:
The Honorable Carl Levin:
Chairman:
The Honorable John McCain:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Armed Services:
United States Senate:
The Honorable John F. Kerry:
Chairman:
The Honorable Richard Lugar:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Foreign Relations:
United States Senate:
The Honorable Daniel Inouye:
Chairman:
The Honorable Thad Cochran:
Ranking Member:
Subcommittee on Defense:
Committee on Appropriations:
United States Senate:
The Honorable Howard McKeon:
Chairman:
The Honorable Adam Smith:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Armed Services:
House of Representatives:
The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:
Chairman:
The Honorable Howard Berman:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Foreign Affairs:
House of Representatives:
The Honorable C. W. Bill Young:
Chairman:
The Honorable Norman Dicks:
Ranking Member:
Subcommittee on Defense:
Committee on Appropriations:
House of Representatives:
[End of section]
Enclosure:
Counter Improvised Explosive Devices: Most Initiatives Supported by
the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Have Limited
Applicability to Humanitarian Demining:
Briefing for Congressional Committees:
May 20, 2011:
[End of section]
Contents:
* Introduction:
* Key Questions:
* Scope and Methodology:
* Summary:
* Background:
* Findings:
* Agency Comments:
Introduction:
Each year, landmines and explosive remnants of war cause thousands of
casualties worldwide. Since 1993, the United States, through the
Department of State's (State) Bureau of Political-Military Affairs/
Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement Humanitarian Mine Action
Program, has contributed funding for humanitarian demining to more
than 80 countries, providing tens of millions of dollars annually to
rid the world of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In
2010, State reported that, since 1993, it had received almost $2
billion in total funding for the Humanitarian Mine Action Program.
Humanitarian demining is one of the focus areas of humanitarian mine
action and is primarily conducted by foreign militaries, contractors,
non-governmental organizations, and host country personnel.
In 2006, to address the threat of improvised explosive devices (IED)
to military missions, the Department of Defense (DOD) established the
Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). Its mission is to lead,
advocate, and coordinate all DOD actions to defeat IEDs. Through
fiscal year 2010, Congress has appropriated over $17 billion to JIEDDO
to rapidly develop and field counter-IED solutions, such as detectors
and electronic jammers.
In the Committee report accompanying the House of Representatives'
version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year
2011, the House Armed Services Committee directed that we review the
applicability of JIEDDO initiatives to humanitarian demining efforts.
[Footnote 2]
Key Questions:
To respond to this mandate, we addressed the following questions:
1. What JIEDDO-supported technologies has DOD identified that could be
applicable to humanitarian demining?
2. To what extent does coordination occur (a) within DOD and (b)
between DOD and State regarding JIEDDO-supported technologies that
could be applicable to humanitarian demining?
Scope and Methodology:
To address the first question, we reviewed the August 2010 information
paper DOD presented to Congress on the potential for applying JIEDDO-
supported technologies to humanitarian demining efforts. To understand
the analysis and assumptions used to prepare this paper, we
interviewed officials from the three DOD entities that prepared it:
* the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense/Special Operations
Low-Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities/Stability
Operations Capabilities (SOLIC), OSD's lead agency for DOD support of
humanitarian mine actions;
* JIEDDO; and:
* the Humanitarian Demining Research & Development Program (HD R&D),
which focuses on the development, demonstration, and validation of
technology for immediate use in humanitarian demining actions
worldwide. The Countermine Division of the Army's Research,
Development and Engineering Command's Night Vision and Electronic
Sensors Directorate executes this program for SOLIC, which provides
oversight and guidance.
During our interviews with key officials from these entities and
State, we corroborated our understanding of the differences between
counter IED and humanitarian demining operations. We discussed plans
with officials from HD R&D for deciding which of the identified
technologies would be tested to determine their applicability to
humanitarian demining. We also interviewed officials from the Army
Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to review and
understand DOD-wide data they manage for DOD's explosive hazards
technology programs and the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Technology Division concerning current explosive ordnance disposal
technologies.
To address the second question, we reviewed DOD and State policies and
procedures to determine requirements for coordination related to
JIEDDO-supported technologies that could be applicable to humanitarian
demining. We focused on State guidance issued since 2002 and on DOD
guidance issued since JIEDDO was established. Specifically, we
reviewed:
* State's Humanitarian Demining Programs Policy and Procedures Manual,
* DOD Directive 2000.19E for JIEDDO, and:
* the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3207.01B for
Military Support to Humanitarian Mine Actions.
To identify specific formal and informal coordination mechanisms, we
interviewed officials from:
* SOLIC;
* HD R&D;
* the Unexploded Ordnance Center of Excellence (UXOCOE), which serves
as the clearinghouse for information on DOD's explosive hazards
technology programs;
* the Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate; and:
* State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs/Office of Weapons
Removal and Abatement Humanitarian Mine Action Program.
We conducted this performance audit from October 2010 through May
2011, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable
basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for
our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
Summary:
Question 1:
DOD reviewed 150 JIEDDO-supported technologies and identified 6 that
could potentially be applicable to humanitarian demining. However, 4
of the 6 technologies identified by DOD either duplicated those
already being used or, because of technical issues, were not suitable
for use in humanitarian demining. DOD plans to further review the
remaining two technologies for possible use in humanitarian demining.
Differences between counter-IED and humanitarian demining operations
limit the extent to which JIEDDO-supported technologies can be used
for humanitarian demining. For example, counter-IED focuses on force
mobility whereas humanitarian demining focuses on clearing all mines
in a large area.
Question 2:
Several mechanisms exist for coordination within DOD and between DOD
and State regarding technologies that could be applicable to
humanitarian demining. Although there are no formal criteria requiring
coordination within DOD and between DOD and State to identify JIEDDO-
supported counter-IED technologies that may be applicable to
humanitarian demining, we found that the informal coordination
mechanisms in place worked fairly well.
* Within DOD, SOLIC and HD R&D determine what commercial off-the-shelf
or DOD technologies could be applicable to humanitarian demining
efforts by coordinating with other DOD offices through formal and
informal mechanisms (e.g., attending weekly JIEDDO Board meetings,
participating in the UXOCOE annual Resources Managers Meeting, and by
communicating through emails and phone calls with DOD offices).
* Between DOD and State, informal mechanisms for coordination include
the HD R&D Biennial Requirements Workshop and regular phone calls
between State, SOLIC, and HD R&D.
* Given the extent to which DOD and State regularly communicate,
coupled with the limited applicability of counter-IED technologies to
humanitarian demining, the level of coordination within DOD and
between DOD and State appears to be adequate for identifying
technologies applicable to humanitarian demining.
Background:
Humanitarian mine action focuses on three main areas: (1) mine
detection and clearance -humanitarian demining, (2) mine-risk education
- teaching local citizens how to recognize landmines, and (3) survivor
assistance - providing medical, rehabilitation and support services to
victims and their families.
Humanitarian demining includes activities directly related to the
identification and clearance of landmines and explosive remnants of
war. HD R&D, the lead organization for developing humanitarian
demining technologies within DOD, develops, demonstrates, and
validates cost effective technologies for use in humanitarian
demining. Humanitarian demining operations are generally manual, labor-
intensive, and conducted after military conflicts have ended. Fields
must be completely cleared of all landmines and unexploded ordnance in
order for them to be certified by the host country as being cleared.
Counter-IED operations can be mechanized (involving technologies such
as jammers and electronic sensors) and conducted during military
conflicts. They often involve using classified technologies. Counter-
IED operations are often conducted quickly for specific military
purposes, such as clearing roads so that military troops and equipment
can be moved into an area. In many cases, the areas do not have to be
completely cleared; they only need to be cleared for the purpose of
the military operation.
Table 1: Functions and Funding for Some Organizations Related to
Humanitarian Mine Actions and Demining Technologies:
Organization: HD R&D (DOD);
Function: Under the oversight of SOLIC and operating within the Army's
Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, serves as DOD's lead
for developing humanitarian demining technologies. Conducts
humanitarian demining research and development focusing on the
development, testing, demonstration, and validation of technology for
immediate use in humanitarian demining efforts worldwide;
SOLIC Research, Development, Technology & Evaluation;
Funding: Fiscal years 2006-2010: $69.8 million.
Organization: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DOD);
Function: Among other activities--supervises, manages, and funds the
Humanitarian Demining Training Center located at Fort Leonard Wood,
Missouri;
Funding: Source: Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid;
Funding: Fiscal years 2006-2010: $12.8 million.
Organization: UXOCOE (DOD);
Function: Serves as a clearinghouse for information on DOD's explosive
hazards technology programs;
Funding: Source: Assistant Secretary of Army Installations Energy and
Environment, Research Development Technology & Evaluation;
Funding: Fiscal years 2006-2010: $5.6 million.
Organization: Bureau of Political Military Affairs' Office of Weapons
Removal and Abatement (State);
Function: Lead organization in coordinating U.S. humanitarian demining
efforts worldwide;
Funding: Source: Non-Proliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and
Related Programs;
Funding: Fiscal years 2006-2010: $569.5 million.
Source: GAO generated from agency data.
[End of table]
Under law, DOD personnel are restricted in the extent to which they
may actively participate in humanitarian demining operations.
10 United States Code (USC) § 401(a)(1) states that DOD personnel may
carry out certain "humanitarian and civic assistance activities in
conjunction with authorized military operations of the armed forces in
a country if the Secretary concerned determines that the activities
will promote:
(A) the security interests of both the United States and the country
in which the activities are to be carried out; and:
(B) the specific operational readiness skills of the members of the
armed forces who participate in the activities."
10 USC § 407(a)(3) specifies that the Secretary of Defense shall
ensure no member of the U.S. Armed Forces, while providing
humanitarian demining assistance does the following:
(A) "engages in the physical detection, lifting, or destroying of
landmines or other explosive remnants of war (unless the member does
so for the concurrent purpose of supporting a United States military
operation); or:
(B) provides such assistance as part of a military operation that does
not involve the armed forces."
Findings:
Question 1: DOD-Identified Technologies:
In response to congressional issues raised in H.R. Rep. No. 111-491,
SOLIC, JIEDDO, and HD R&D conducted a one-time effort to review JIEDDO
counter-IED initiatives and jointly identified 6 out of a total 150
technologies that might be used for humanitarian demining: three
handheld detectors, two vehicular-based detectors and an airborne
detector. According to HD R&D officials:
* They are planning to further evaluate two of the six available
technologies, which are both handheld technologies, to determine their
potential usefulness in humanitarian demining.
* The other four available technologies will not be further evaluated
for the following reasons:
- Two technologies (one handheld and one vehicular-based) duplicate
technologies that are already being used by DOD for humanitarian
demining.
- The other vehicular-based technology is being used by the Army for
military countermine operations but will not be explored further for
humanitarian demining because it requires special vehicles for use and
organizations performing humanitarian demining generally do not have
these special vehicles available.
- The airborne technology's usefulness is reduced when used in areas
with vegetation, so DOD officials concluded that it would not work for
humanitarian demining.
Table 2 lists the six identified technologies, how they are used and
HD R&D's plans for further testing.
Table 2: JIEDDO-Supported Technologies that DOD Identified as
Potentially Applicable for Humanitarian Demining:
System name: Mini Handheld Stand-off Mine Detection System;
Technology: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Metal Detector;
How used: Handheld;
Further testing: Yes.
System name: Minehound;
Technology: GPR;
How used: Handheld;
Further testing: Yes.
System name: Lightweight Beachcomber;
Technology: Metal Detector;
How used: Handheld;
Further testing: No, already have similar technology.
System name: Vehicle Borne Assisted Detection System;
Technology: Metal Detector;
How used: Vehicle based;
Further testing: No, already have similar technology.
System name: Husky Mounted Detection System;
Technology: GPR;
How used: Vehicle based;
Further testing: No, requires special vehicles--organizations
performing humanitarian demining generally do not have these special
vehicles available.
System name: Hawkeye;
Technology: Ground Penetrating Synthetic Aperture Radar;
How used: Airborne;
Further testing: No, not useful in vegetation.
Source: GAO generated from agency data.
[End of table]
According to DOD and State officials, humanitarian demining operations
are very different from counter-IED operations. Table 3 shows some of
these key differences.
Table 3: Differences between Counter-IED and Humanitarian Demining
Operations:
Counter-IED operations: Take place during wartime;
Humanitarian demining operations: Take place in a peacetime
environment where the threat is essentially static.
Counter-IED operations: Focus on force mobility;
Humanitarian demining operations: Focus on the detection of each
landmine rather than mobility.
Counter-IED operations: Provide for the rapid clearance of mines but
not for the need to find every device (i.e., 100-percent clearance of
an area is not required);
Humanitarian demining operations: Require 100-percent detection and
elimination of all landmines and explosive remnants of war within a
large designated area.
Counter-IED operations: Occur with the primary goal often being to
disrupt the active communication link of IEDs;
Humanitarian demining operations: Occur without the primary goal being
to disrupt an active communications link. (Landmines and explosive
remnants of war do not have active communications links;
they are accidentally set off with the application of pressure).
Counter-IED operations: Take into consideration that an IED can be
made up of any type of explosive device;
Humanitarian demining operations: Take into consideration that the
models and components of landmines and most unexploded ordnance are
well known.
Counter-IED operations: May use classified technologies;
Humanitarian demining operations: May use only unclassified
technologies.
Counter-IED operations: Take place often under tight time constraints;
Humanitarian demining operations: Take place without specified time
constraints.
Source: GAO generated from agency data.
[End of table]
Findings:
Objective 2: Coordination Mechanisms within DOD:
SOLIC and HD R&D use both formal and informal mechanisms to coordinate
their efforts to identify technologies that could be applicable to
humanitarian demining.
* SOLIC:
- SOLIC officials said that they identify JIEDDO technologies that
could be applicable to humanitarian demining through participation in
two weekly meetings of JIEDDO Boards that review counter-IED
technology proposals:
1. JIEDDO Requirements, Resources, and Acquisitions Board.
2. JIEDDO Integrated Process Team.
* HD R&D:
- HD R&D officials said that they update information related to
humanitarian demining technologies and review a database of DOD-wide
science and technology efforts to identify technologies that may be
applicable to humanitarian demining.
- Attends UXOCOE's annual Resources Managers Meeting:
- Communicates and coordinates regularly through emails and phone
calls with officials from SOLIC, State, the DOD Humanitarian Demining
Training Center, and UXOCOE:
State officials said they keep current on technologies that could be
applicable to humanitarian demining--including JIEDDO supported
technologies--through various informal coordination and communication
mechanisms with the following offices:
SOLIC and HD R&D:
* State officials have regular phone conversations with SOLIC
officials and the HD R&D Program Manager:
* State officials attend conferences and research development
symposiums sponsored by HD R&D:
- HD R&D's Biennial Requirements Workshop brings demining
organizations together to present and share information related to
upcoming technology advancements:
Agency Comments:
DOD and State did not provide written comments on this report.
However, after reviewing a draft of this report, DOD officials agreed
with its content and provided technical comments, which we
incorporated where appropriate. Similarly, State officials said that
our report was presented accurately but did not provide any additional
comments.
[End of section]
Footnotes:
[1] H.R. Rep. No. 111-491, at 354 (2010).
[2] H.R. Rep. No. 111-491, at 354 (2010).
[End of section]
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Washington, D.C. 20548:
