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

Initial assessment Identify, preserve, document, and collect evidence in a hazardous environment Hazardous Materials Response Teams

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