CDP passes biennial compliance inspection

The CDP’s Chemical, Ordnance, Biological, and Radiological Training Facility (COBRATF) recently passed its chemical surety inspection.

Conducted every two years by a team from the U.S. Army Materiel Command, the inspection confirms the COBRATF is compliant with strict standards to store and train with the nerve agents GB (Sarin) and VX.  It examines all aspects of the facility, from chemical and biological agent accountability processes to physical security, quality management and safety procedures.

The COBRATF was said to be operating at ‘mission capable status’ – meaning the CDP performs mission essential tasks to standard – by the team.

In a typical year, the CDP trains up to 2,500 civilian first responders to detect and safely operate in environments with chemical, biological and nuclear materials. It offers the only civilian training in the nation featuring live chemical agents and biological materials such as ricin (Ricin A Chain) and anthrax (Bacillus anthracis delta Sterne), which increases responders’ confidence to deal with hazardous substances in real-world incidents.

Due to the nature of its activity, the COBRATF undergoes several routine compliance inspections by experts from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and others.