Orrin Hatch: “The study that the distinguished Senator from California has cited was conducted, I believe, back in 1980. I am a member…”

“The study that the distinguished Senator from California has cited was conducted, I believe, back in 1980. I am a member of the Technology Assessment Board. That study itself found substantial evidence that placing taggants in explosives seriously affects the stability of the explosive material. I am reading what it says here on page 29, in their detailed findings. The tests so far conducted are only a small fraction of the total number of tests that must be performed before it can conclusively be determined whether taggants are compatible with commercial explosives and gun powders. Even if the current question of the stability of smokeless powder in boosters is resolved, it is not possible to generalize from the results of the limited tests . . . so far completed. And they conclude that the testing has not demonstrated that taggants can be safely added to explosives. Thousands of people come into contact with explosives every day during the manufacture, storage, transportation, and use of explosives. Accidents involving explosives can have extremely severe consequences to these thousands of people. Therefore, safety must be demonstrated, and a carefully administered qualification program for analysis, safety, testing, and manufacturing procedures, control, and experience is necessary before a new explosive or an explosive with a significant exchange in composition can be considered safe.”