Q or Q p LU s- LU °° H LU LO CO CD O LU co < or or O a. LU D. D. LU D. £ LLJ O "o 2 D. T3 O O (D C c D) Z> LU < cu O CU CD E a> -* -o £ i % |o CD £ LO o _ =5 O CO *= o Is ^ § fc LLJ w I a i iiil The National Homeland Security Research Center Mission OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT National Homeland Security Research Center ADVANCING OUR NATION'S SECURITY THROUGH SCIENCE The National Homeland Security Research Center's (NHSRC's) goal is to develop and deliver reliable, responsive scientific expertise and products. These are widely used to prevent, prepare for, and recover from public health and environmental emergencies. NHSRC researchers use proven scientific methods in their work to ensure that their results are sound, whether testing drinking water delivery systems, or sampling and testing contamination sites. The NHSRC Approach NHSRC develops its research plans in two important ways. The first involves envisioning various circumstances under which attacks may occur. These circumstances, or threat scenarios, are analyzed to determine which could have the greatest consequences. Research is directed to address these high- consequence scenarios to ensure that we get the most valuable information within an appropriate time frame. Secondly, research is prioritized by seeking the advice of experts. NHSRC scientists and engineers routinely meet with representatives from the water and building industries, security specialists, public health officials, and other government agencies to under- stand their research needs and technical challenges. NHSRC is dedicated to solving real-world problems and putting technol- ogy in the hands of those who need it. ------- NHSRC Research Areas NHSRC Divisions and Supporting Programs Key NHSRC Research Products Detection/Characterization Prevention/Containment Decontamination/Mitigation Disposal of Residues Risk Assessment Technology Verification Technical Assistance/ Technology Transfer Divisions Threat and Consequence Assessment addresses human exposure to chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants to define dangerous levels of these contaminants and help establish protective cleanup goals. Decontamination and Consequence Management provides support for the decontamination and restoration of indoor and outdoor areas purposefully contaminated with biological, chemical, or radiological hazards. Safe disposal of contaminated food and agricultural products are also addressed. Water Infrastructure Protection is charged with protecting the nation's drinking water supplies and infrastructure, as well as wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal systems. Supporting Programs Response Capability Enhancement works directly with emergency responders and local governments to provide tools and information needed to make informed decisions in the event of an attack. Technology Testing and Evaluation evaluates technologies that show potential for use in homeland security applications. These evaluations are used by water utilities, building owners, emergency responders, and others to make informed decisions when purchasing security technology. The Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center located in Cincinnati, Ohio. A Web-based catalog of technical resources A compendium of sampling and analysis methods Design and operational guidance for building and water system protection Decontamination and disposal technical guidance An interactive database and expert system for rapid risk assessment Technology Testing and Evaluation Program (TTEP) reports for commercially available detection, containment, and decontamination technology For additional information on NHSRC products, go to www.epa.gov/nhsrc. ~, *m ------- |