INL TECHNOLOGIES

National Security

WMD Response Teams

In 1997, the Secretary of

Defense made a recommendation to establish weapons

of mass destruction response

teams in the wake of national

concern over terrorist events

such as the World Trade

Center and Oklahoma City

bombings. Subsequently,

Congress funded a conceptual study, which resulted in

funding in the 1999 Defense

Budget for the formation of

Civil Support Teams.

WMD Training

In 2002, the Idaho National

Laboratory (INL) teamed

with the West Desert Test

Center (WDTC) at Dugway

Proving Grounds, Utah, to

offer expert training courses

and optimal training environments to a variety of

military and civilian groups.

While the WDTC, Special

Programs Division,

specializes in realistic,

challenging training

regarding threats from

chemical and biological

weapons of mass

destruction, INL provides

hands-on training and

radiological expertise. INL

has been in the nuclear/

radiological science

business for over five

decades – safely designing,

constructing and operating

over 50 one-of-a-kind

nuclear reactors on its 890-

square mile desert test

range. INL has

collaborated with WDTC to

Continued next page

Answering the Call...

INL is committed

to support emergency

responders called to duty in

the face of a terrorist attack.

Comprehensive classroom and realistic field training

for emergency responders
INL TECHNOLOGIES

augment radiological

training to their repertoire

of chemical and biological

weapons training.

Specialized incident response teams from all

across the United States

have taken advantage of the

comprehensive classroom,

practical and realistic field

training provided by the

INL to enhance their

capabilities and sharpen

their skills for response to

radiological WMD.

Facilities and Test

Range

INL offers distinctive assets

and capabilities that enhance

its comprehensive training,

including:

• Professional and comfortable conference rooms for

classroom/practical

instruction

• Unique infrastructure;

multi-room, multi-level

buildings for field exercises

• Full participation from

fire departments to

support incident command structure

• Variety of real radiological

sources

• Live Fire Test Range

• Helicopter landing sites

• Classified project accommodations

• Collapsed structure (in

cooperation with RIG in

Oklahoma City, Okla.)

• DOE Radiological Assistance Program (RAP),

Region 6, expertise and

support

Additionally, INL’s 890-

square-mile Test Range –

containing infrastructure

replicating that of a small

city with its own power

distribution, transportation,

and telecommunications

facilities – offers a realistic

training environment that is

safe, remote and secure.

From Our View

Incident response teams

attending our course are well

trained to respond to

domestic incidents involving

use of weapons of mass

destruction. It is our goal to

deliver a course that builds

upon their existing

knowledge and provide a

realistic platform to “field”

the lessons learned in the

Continued from front classroom. Hands-on

instruction is a proven

effective method of teaching

and learning the

philosophies of emergency

response. INL strives for

realism and spares no detail

when it comes to providing

this vitally important

training that may one day be

put to use under real-world

conditions. “Train as you

fight – fight as you train.”

Training Services

In addition to our comprehensive experience and

expertise in the nuclear and

radiological world, we also

partner with DPG for their

proficiency in the chemical

and biological arenas. For

those clients that desire a

“one-stop-shop” for chem./

bio/rad – we provide an allin-one solution.

Our Mobile Training Team

delivers tailored training and

field exercises. Our course

modules are adaptable to your

group’s specific needs and are

scalable in size/complexity

(one-on-one practical exerThe vast INL Test Range is a

secure, isolated microcosm of

much of the nation’s

infrastructure.

Instructors are committed to the

success of the incident response

team, acting as a mentor and

delivering immediate feedback.
INL TECHNOLOGIES

cises up to large, multi-agency

field exercises).

The DOE Radiological

Assistance Program (RAP)

Team directly contributes to

the overall success of our

training program. Each

individual on this elite, highly

specialized team possesses

15 to 30 years experience.

Course Description

Our course was designed

with built-in flexibility. This

is essential, as customers

have their own set of detailed

objectives. We work closely

with the end user, from the

onset of initial planning to

the conclusion of the course,

to ensure we meet all

expectations to the best of

our ability.

We focus our efforts in the

areas of nuclear and

radiological threats –

emphasizing a high level of

awareness and understanding

of the associated hazards,

confidence in detection and

assessment equipment,

identification of radiological

isotopes, biological effects

and personnel safety.

The basic course is three

days: one day of classroom

instruction, one day of handson practical exercises and

workshops, and a final day of

field exercises, complete with

real radiological sources and

props to create a realistic

WMD situation.

Classroom content can be

taught at various levels of

instruction (initial, advanced Continued on back

or refresher). Course modules include:

• Radiological Basics

• Measuring Radiation

Comprehensive classroom

instruction teamed with hands-on

exercises and dynamic

instructors provide diverse levels

of instruction.

INL’s WMD training provides a

realistic platform for applying

classroom lessons to hands-on

field exercises.
INL TECHNOLOGIES

Reactor Technology

Complex

Materials and

Fuels Complex

Science and

Technology

Complex

• Biological Effects

• Dose and Contamination

Control

• Patient Care

• Instrumentation

• Sources of Assistance

• Transportation of Radioactive Material

The practical exercises and

workshops provide an

interactive environment that

encourages participation

through hands-on activities.

Best practice tactics,

techniques and simply

“solutions that work” are

solidly grounded upon actual

experience in operations,

training and exercises. All

clients will employ their

own radiological detection

and assessment equipment

for these exercises. Practical

exercises include the

following activities:

• Personnel

Decontamination

• Survey

Techniques

Continued from previous page

A WMD-Civil Support Team

arrives on scene to support the

INL Fire Department as part of

a radiological WMD field

exercise. All field exercises are

scenario-based and written to

address the team’s specific

mission and objectives.

Yvette Leppert

208-526-3571, or

208-521-0309

Yvette.Leppert@inl.gov

Kevin Young

208-526-1782, or

208-520-1628

Kevin.Young@inl.gov

05-GA50135

• Instrumentation Selection

and Use

• Radiation Measurements

and Conversions

We have conducted numerous exercises for the National

Guard WMD-Civil Support

Teams and use this experience as a model to develop

other field exercises. However, we produce tailored

field exercises based upon

the customer’s mission.

The CST mission is to deploy

to an area of operation in

support of the local incident

commander and assess a

suspected chemical, biological or radiological event; to

advise civilian responders

regarding appropriate

actions; and facilitate

requests for assistance to

expedite arrival of additional

state and federal assets to

help save lives, prevent

human suffering, and mitigate property damage.

For more information