CDP’s COBRA training facility aces biennial compliance inspection

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

Conducted by a team from the U.S. Army’s Materiel Command, the inspection confirms whether the COBRATF is compliant with strict standards to store and train with the nerve agents GB (Sarin) and VX.  It examines a wide range of activities, from the facility’s chemical agent accountability processes to its physical security, quality management and safety procedures.

The COBRATF was said to be operating at ‘mission capable status’ – the highest possible rating – 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.