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The Hazardous
Materials Response Unit was established in 1996 in response to
the threat of terrorism involving chemical, biological, and nuclear
weapons and to an expanding caseload of environmental crimes.
The Unit provides the capability to safely and effectively respond
to criminal acts and incidents involving the use of hazardous
materials and develops the FBI's technical proficiency and readiness
for crime scene and evidence-related operations in cases involving
chemical, biological, and radiological materials and wastes.
This is accomplished through an integrated effort involving specialized
response teams, a national training program, interagency liaison,
technical assistance to FBI field and Headquarters divisions,
and the development of field response programs. The Unit also
trains, equips, and certifies FBI field office personnel for
hazardous materials operations.
During 1999,
the Unit responded to 19 hazardous materials incidents, trained
522 FBI personnel in hazardous materials response capabilities,
and outfitted five FBI field divisions with hazardous materials
response equipment. In addition, the Unit provided investigative
and field response support in more than 175 cases involving the
threatened use of biological agents, including ricin and anthrax,
and established a 24-hour on-call support system for FBI field
divisions, which provides rapid access to Unit personnel with
relevant hazardous materials response and operational experience.
The Unit also organized
and provided response readiness at special events, including the Pope
John Paul II visit to the United States, the World Alpine Games, and
the Super Bowl. Support was also provided for the 50th Anniversary of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Washington, DC, and marked
the first deployment of the Unit's Fly-Away Laboratory.
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