Background:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nevada Test Site (NTS) is a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC). Counter Terrorism Operations Support (CTOS) develops and conducts training courses for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), Training Exercise Integration (TEI), Training Operations within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its continuing role is to provide expertise and training to the state and local emergency response community. The NDPC was formed in 1998 as partnership of several nationally recognized public universities, the DHS, and NNSA. The members are bound together into a single, well-coordinated, and fully integrated weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response and prevention training program of the highest caliber.
Operations:
The Counter Terrorism Operations Support (CTOS) Program at the NTS develops and delivers the training for emergency first responders. This training prepares the responders to take immediate, decisive action to prevent or mitigate terrorist use of radiological or nuclear WMDs, such as Improvised Nuclear Devices (INDs) and Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs or “dirty bombs”). Training courses and exercises conducted at the NTS, municipality-hosted locations, and online, provide state and local first responders with the tools they need to protect their communities from these threats. With FEMA/NPD concurrence, CTOS coordinates the development and delivery of preventive radiological/nuclear detection and interdiction training with the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), the DHS entity charged with this responsibility. Actual Radioactive Material:
With the exception of awareness-level and online courses, all courses are “live agent,” using radioactive material. These courses are designed and monitored so attendees receive only minor radiation dosages (lower than a chest X-ray or a typical round-trip airline flight across the U.S.); however, radiation levels are sufficient to practice techniques needed in a real incident involving much higher levels. Each attendee operates and employs radiation detection and measurement instruments throughout the course. Attendees practice with radioactive material in the classroom, and during drills and exercise scenarios. The NTS exercise areas can be configured in thousands of square feet at elevated radiation levels. |
