COBRA Training Facility undergoes virtual compliance inspection

The Center for Domestic Preparedness’ Chemical, Ordnance, Biological and Radiological Training Facility (COBRATF) this week (May 18-22) kicked off its annual Chemical Agent Standard Analytical Reference Material (CASARM) audit by the U.S. Army’s Chemical Biological Center.

The Army center is the nation’s principal research and development authority for non-medical chemical and biological defense.

Because of the nature of its activity, the COBRATF undergoes a number of routine compliance inspections by experts from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and others.

Due to coronavirus, the CASARM audit is being conducted virtually over a two-week period.

To help enable a smooth assessment, the CDP provided the inspection team copies of various administrative documents in advance.

COBRATF staff members are now having discussions online with members of the inspection team about the documents and the facility’s operational processes and are virtually escorting the team around the facility so it can examine the physical training structure. 

The formal results of the audit are expected in about a month.

The CDP trains up to 2,500 civilian first responders a year to detect and safely operate in environments with chemical, biological and nuclear materials. It offers the only civilian training courses in the nation featuring live chemical agents such as GB and VX, and biological materials such as ricin and anthrax. The training increases students’ confidence to deal with hazardous substances during a real-world attack or other incident.