A Public/Private Partnership
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Project began in 2005 after an assessment of
then-current training capabilities and future
anticipated needs.
Several sites around the Commonwealth were
considered.
Southeast Virginia was identified as best
meeting the needs for a statewide advanced
hazardous materials training facility.
Formed a partnership with the County of York
to develop a joint facility.
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In January 2010, began construction on an
approximately 8-acre site within the County
of York.
Site is adjacent to an existing fire station that
is landlocked by industry.
Today, facility is approximately 80% complete.
While additions and changes to design are still
occurring, development has shifted focus to
the set up of simulators and enhancement of
capabilities.
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To deliver comprehensive, integrated
emergency response training to protect the
public from the debilitating effects of
hazardous materials and CBRNE incidents.
To enhance the capabilities of emergency
responders by providing them a safe, stateof-the-art facility where they have
opportunities to work in situations relevant to
today’s emergency response community.
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Facility was designed to deliver hazardous
materials/CBRNE emergency response
training.
Facility and its proximity to marine and
industrial facilities allows for a broad range of
training opportunities.
Facility was built as a state-of-the-art
training environment.
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There are many different training
environments at the HM/CBRNE facility,
including:
◦ Indoor classrooms
◦ Outdoor classrooms
◦ Practical training stations
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Delivery of lecture activities for 24 students.
Technology incorporated in the rehabilitation
of the classroom to include…
◦ Wireless data reception – allows students ability to
access the Internet for research activities.
◦ Smart media integration – allows the capture of
data on board for review.
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Provides weather protection for outdoor activities
or lectures.
Portable bleachers or tables allow for a variety of
activities such as…
◦ Laboratory experiments
◦ Damage assessment
◦ Skills sets that may not be conducive to indoor
environments
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All necessary utilities for outdoor activities are
provided at each station.
◦ Utilities were placed underground to prevent trip
hazards, reduce ancillary equipment, and to facilitate
easier set up.
◦ Electricity, water, compressed air, and liquefied
compressed gases can be controlled at the individual
stations.
◦ All utility sources are removed from the training area to
limit disruption from noise or maintenance servicing.
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Six major work areas designed to allow
students the opportunity to recognize
situations and to practice and demonstrate
advanced control skills.
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Highway container simulators
Rail emergency simulators
Intermodal container simulators
Low-pressure/High-pressure liquid leak
Compressed gas/Liquefied compressed gas
Illicit laboratories
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Allows the responder to work with currently
authorized DOT-specification containers.
Equipment is representative of what the
responder sees “on the streets.”
Each simulator is engineered with multiple
leaks common for that type construction that
the responder must repair.
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Rail containers pose unusual challenges for
emergency responders.
Representative equipment on site allows the
responders to see the different hazards of motive
power units, general service cars, and highpressure cars.
Emphasis is placed on assessing construction,
understanding hazards, and mitigating releases
from bulk containers (even a locomotive).
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The Intermodal Association of North America
(IANA) states that approximately 25 million
intermodal shipments occur each year; it is the
fastest-growing mode of transportation.
Simulators allow responders to view different
types of construction and equipment
arrangements.
Responders have opportunity to practice
advanced control skills such as transfer
operations and working with ISO/IMO-type
containers.
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Allows the responder to utilize leak control
techniques for both low-pressure and highpressure applications.
Responders learn how to control leaks from
different types of piping and pipe appliances.
Responders have opportunity to use
commercially available kits as well as learning
to be creative with the equipment they
currently possess.
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Using flammable and toxic compressed
gas/liquefied compressed gas storage
cylinders, responders address:
◦ Container design, piping, and control
considerations
◦ Container behavior during emergency conditions
◦ Temporary container repair and product transfer
operations
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Allows the responder to see “functional”
laboratory environments for different types of
illicit labs:
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Clandestine drug labs
Illicit biological labs
Chemical warfare agent production labs
Improvised explosives labs
Toxin extraction labs
Radiological dispersal device labs
Responders compare lab-grade equipment and
processes to “backyard chemist” equipment and
how to manage the different types of processes.
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On-site CCTV system to record responders’
actions during activities
Upgraded field instrumentation
Wireless instrumentation that behaves similar
to “real-life” instruments
Integrated use of fire service technologies
In-suit communications
Real-time weather input with plume data
“Working” simulators
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The facility has been a great opportunity to
explore public/private partnerships.
VDEM and its partners all work towards the
facility’s goal.
Without a partnership, it would have been
extremely difficult to develop this site with
existing resources.
The facility is always adapting to meet the
new challenges facing emergency responders.
Thomas C. Jordan
HM Training and Development Coordinator
Virginia Dept of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court
Richmond, Virginia 23236
tom.jordan@vdem.virginia.gov
(804) 380-8492