Hazardous Materials Response Team Unit Operational Response Section

Our Mission

HM Units provides technical and scientific support to FBI investigations involving hazardous materials, including Weapons of Mass Destruction • • •

Hazardous Materials Response Team Unit Hazardous Materials Science Response Unit Hazardous Materials Operations Unit

Support to FBI Investigations

• WMD Threat assessment • Scientific or technical assessment • Hazmat crime scene management • Hazard risk assessment • Site safety and medical support • Incident Command support • Evidence collection • Decontamination – Chemical, biological, radiological • Hazardous evidence transportation • Domestic and international missions

FBI Responsibilities

• Identify, detect, deter and disrupt terrorist operations before they occur • Primary jurisdiction to investigate, apprehend and bring to prosecution those responsible for acts of terrorism • WMD Crime Scene Operations • WMD Forensics • Render Safe Operations • Terrorism Investigations

Hazardous Materials Response Teams

• 28 Teams • Respond to incidents with support of HMRU • Collateral duty – SA’s, Task Force Officers including JTTF, professional support staff

Hazardous Materials Response Teams

• Initial assessment • Identify, preserve, document, and collect evidence in a hazardous environment

Evidence Recovery

• Effective laboratory analysis depends on – Recognition – Recovery – Packaging – Documentation

Quality Control

• Avoid cross-contamination – Do not re-use sterile equipment or supplies – Change gloves between each sample • Control Blanks – Always include for every lot number • Control Samples – Uncontaminated environmental samples

WMD Coordinators

• Liaison with Federal, State, and local response agencies • Conduit to FBIHQ for technical information, advice, and assistance • Pre-Event Planning and Prevention • At least one WMD Coordinator in each office • Contacted by State and local Emergency Responders for WMD threat or incident

SSA Lisa J. Ference [email protected]