A major source of the backlog was the reduction of staffing in the Firearms Identification Section. Therefore, the department hired and started training five individuals as firearms examiners and further hired six experienced firearms examiners as temporary employees. The department also arranged to use the laboratory facilities and equipment of the Forensic Science Research and Training Center at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. Funding for the effort was obtained from the proceeds of seizures during Federal drug law enforcement activities. Other measures included arrangements for transportation of evidence and the use of a computer for information management. The project's first phase of implementation took place on June 5, 1989. The last of the 375 assigned cases was examined on August 14. The second phase began on August 28. The project showed that innovative management techniques can overcome seemingly insurmountable problems. 3 footnotes