Johnston Atoll is comprised of four small islands, the largest of which, Johnston Island, is about 1 square mile. As the only shallow water and dry land area in millions of square miles of ocean, Johnston Atoll is an oasis for reef and bird life.
Nerve agent is lethal in very small quantities.
The nerve agent VX can kill when just a single drop comes in contact with human skin. Both areas are under the authority of the U.S. Army. All of the islands in the atoll are considered part of the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains biologists on the atoll to monitor the wildlife and human activities and advise the military. The weapons stored at Johnston Atoll range in age from 30 to over 50 years old.