--- title: "Subscribers" description: "CBRNe World provides those tasked with defending against CBRN and IED threats with the essential practical, scientific and political information. Access the current and previous issues of the magazine by registering as a member." url: "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers?start=1118" date: "2026-07-31T13:25:02+00:00" language: "en-GB" --- [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/b3/Darpa_Logo-b3f3f4ea.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1329:virtual-teams-trek-through-simulated-hazards-in-subt-challenge-tunnel-event&catid=12) ## [Virtual Teams Trek through Simulated Hazards in SubT Challenge Tunnel Event](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1329:virtual-teams-trek-through-simulated-hazards-in-subt-challenge-tunnel-event&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 09 July 2019. The DARPA Subterranean (SubT) Challenge opened the Virtual Tunnel Circuit competition July 1 with nine teams vying for a top finish in the event and $500,000 in prizes. Teams that have already qualified can submit their virtual entries at the [SubT Virtual Portal](https://subtchallenge.world/) during the submission window, which remains open through August 1, 2019. Selecting from a [repository](https://bitbucket.org/osrf/subt/wiki/robots) of robot models and a variety of sensors, each team can assemble a fantasy sports-style solution to map, navigate, and search the dark, dangerous, and unpredictable underground scenarios. The Subterranean Challenge seeks to better equip warfighters and first responders to explore human-made tunnel systems, urban underground, and natural cave networks, while decreasing risk to human lives. The SubT Challenge physical Systems and software-focused Virtual competitions aim to create a community of multidisciplinary teams from disparate fields to foster breakthrough technologies in autonomy, perception, networking, and mobility for underground environments. **Virtual Teams** The following organizations have qualified and intend to compete in the Virtual Tunnel competition. Additional teams may submit materials to qualify for future events including the Urban Circuit, Cave Circuit, and Final Event. - AAUNO, Australia - BARCS: Bayesian Adaptive Robot Control System (DARPA-funded) o Michigan Technological University/Michigan Tech Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan - COLLEMBOLLA: Communication Optimized, Low Latency Exploration, Map-Building and Object Localization Autonomy (DARPA-funded) o Scientific Systems Company, Inc., Woburn, Massachusetts - Coordinated Robotics, Newbury Park, California - CYNET.ai, Middletown, New Jersey - Flying Fitches, Germany - Metastable Labs, Austin, Texas - Robotika o Robotika International, Czech Republic and United States o Robotika.cz, Czech Republic o Czech University of Life Science, Czech Republic o Centre for Field Robotics, Czech Republic o Cogito Team, Switzerland - SODIUM-24 Robotics, Dallas, Texas **Virtual Competition – How it Works** To begin, each team assembles a roster of robots and sensors by selecting from the available configurations on the SubT Tech Repo. Each robot configuration has an associated cost, measured in SubT Credits – an in-simulation currency – based on performance characteristics such as speed, mobility, sensing, and battery life. The team rosters are limited to a maximum combined cost of 1,000 SubT Credits. Next, each team writes software and algorithms for their set of robots to compete in the simulated environments. Just as in the real-world competition courses, Virtual competitors will explore the tunnel environment and attempt to identify artifacts within a five-meter radius accuracy during a 60-minute timed run. A correct report is worth one point. Each course contains 20 artifacts, which means each team has the potential for a maximum score of 20 points. Complete rules for the Virtual Tunnel competition are available under the resources tab on the [Subterranean Challenge website](https://www.subtchallenge.com/). During the submission window, teams will have access to several practice scenarios to repeatedly test and perfect their approach before they submit one official solution for scoring. The DARPA team will then evaluate the solution on a set of hidden competition scenarios. DARPA will announce final results of the Virtual Tunnel Circuit alongside the Systems Tunnel Circuit results on August 22. The Systems Tunnel Circuit will take place [August 15-22](https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-05-21) in Pittsburgh at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Mining Program's Safety Research Coal Mine and Experimental Mine. Self-funded Virtual teams may compete for one of three top prizes, provided they finish in the top five overall ranking: $250,000; $150,000; or $100,000, respectively. DARPA-funded teams in the Systems and Virtual competitions are only eligible for prizes in the Final Events. Reporters are invited to attend a Tunnel Circuit media day Tuesday, August 20. The registration deadline for U.S. citizens is Wednesday, July 31. The deadline has passed for non-U.S. citizens to attend this event. Please visit the [media registration site](http://events.sa-meetings.com/DARPASubTChallengeTunnelCircuit/Media) for details. Please email questions to [](https://cbrneworld.com/javascript:/*%20This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.*/). [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [UGV](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/ugv) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/News-Images/Red_Bull_Image_1.jpg#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1328:team-gasgasgas-red-bull-soapbox-race-2019-champions&catid=12) ## [Team GasGasGas Red Bull Soapbox Race 2019 Champions](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1328:team-gasgasgas-red-bull-soapbox-race-2019-champions&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 09 July 2019. A team of employees from Avon Protection won the Red Bull Soapbox Race. Avon Protection’s Team GasGasGas first competed in the Red Bull Soapbox Race in 2017 where they rolled into a very respectable 14th place out of 75 teams. This year their story continued and their application impressed the judges so much, that they were selected to take part in the 2019 Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace in London on the 7th July and went on to become champions winning 1st place. This year Team GasGasGas comprised of seven employees from different departments across Avon Protection including engineering, IT and corporate. Willy’s Jeep Ratrod inspired this year’s design, with the original Willy Jeep in service in the early 1940’s which was commonly used in World War II. Team GasGasGas raced down the 450 metre course at Alexandra Palace to a crowd of 20,000 people including Avon Protection employees and their families. The team were super excited to take part in this international event, in which amateur driver’s race homemade unpowered vehicles down a track featuring ramps and chicanes. Jack Alexander, commented on the event and their victory “I’m still in awe about GasGasGas’ achievement, a combination of robust design, technical knowledge and a smashing run. What really helped us was re-using the chassis from 2017, this allowed us to focus on the bodywork and design to help bring in the creativity points. I would like to thank everyone who supported us in our journey, came to watch us race and for giving me the opportunity to sit in poll position, a big weight on my shoulders but I’m glad I didn’t disappoint!” Nick Hunter, Team Captain added, ‘“What an amazing weekend! From the point we heard we’d been selected to take part we had 90 days until race day. The engine with moving Red Bull can pistons really drew in the crowds at the event and scored us some creativity points with the judges so a big thank you for Seb & Phil for engineering that. Jonny was in charge of directing our start line performance which also went down well with the judges and Jack was fearless with his drive catching some impressive air over the ramps. We knew we’d put on a show to be proud of but didn’t expect to win at all. I look forward to entering it again in two years’ time to defend our title!” Check out Team GasGasGas’s spectacular winning run[ here](https://twitter.com/RedBullUK/status/1147943367067574275) [Just For Fun](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/just-for-fun) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/79/Telerob_EOD_Robot-79d74610.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1327:telerob-receives-major-order-from-norwegian-armed-forces&catid=12) ## [Telerob receives major order from Norwegian armed forces](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1327:telerob-receives-major-order-from-norwegian-armed-forces&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 09 July 2019. Telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik mbH was able to successfully compete and win in the category "Large EOD Robots" in a procurement competition launched by the Norwegian armed forces and receives a major order for several tEODor EVO robots. Last year, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency invited tenders for the procurement of EOD robots of various sizes in a competition. After passing a number of tests, Telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik mbH was awarded the contract for EOD robots of the large class. The contract was signed on 7 June 2019 in Kolsås, Norway. Delivery of the robots is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. Before the EOD robots are handed over to the armed forces, Telerob will provide on-site training for the operation and maintenance of the EOD robots in Norway. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robots support the EOD units in the removal of explosive devices and incendiary devices or the defusing of terrorist bombs. They are also used to defend against Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) threats. The EOD robot tEODor EVO, the successor to the proven tEODor, has only recently been launched on the market. Latest technologies offer the operator a comfortable and intuitive handling of the robot. Telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierungstechnik GmbH is an independent, medium-sized, owner-managed company based in Ostfildern near Stuttgart, Germany, producing homeland security solutions. The product range includes remote-controlled robots for disarming improvised explosive devices and investigating hazards, fully equipped service vehicles as well as mobile system solutions ensuring the safety and security of critical infrastructure. [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Contract](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/contract), [EOD](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/eod) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/4e/TPOXX-4e1e374f.jpeg)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1325:siga-awarded-dod-contract-foe-development-of-tpoxx-as-pep-for-smallpox&catid=12) ## [SIGA Awarded DOD Contract for Development of TPOXX as PEP for Smallpox](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1325:siga-awarded-dod-contract-foe-development-of-tpoxx-as-pep-for-smallpox&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 08 July 2019. SIGA Technologies announced today that they have been awarded a multi-year contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support the work necessary to gain a potential label expansion for TPOXX that would include its use for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for Smallpox. The contract is valued at up to $19.5 million, with an initial award of $12.4 million. The initial funding will support several activities, including manufacturing material for clinical trials, initial preparation for a human clinical safety study, and assembling regulatory filings that SIGA has designed with input from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate the use of TPOXX for PEP. As previously announced, SIGA is already working with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease on animal studies to evaluate the efficacy of TPOXX as a potential PEP therapy for smallpox. The use of TPOXX for PEP could provide significant potential benefit in the event of a smallpox outbreak. While vaccines would play an important role in containing the spread of smallpox, the vaccines are only effective if administered prior to infection or no later than four days after infection. However, symptoms of smallpox do not typically appear until approximately 14 days post-infection, and there is currently no diagnostic test to determine infection prior to symptom onset. Given the uncertainty of an individual’s infection status in that two-week period, and the highly contagious nature of smallpox, the administration of vaccine in combination with TPOXX could potentially be an important strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality in a smallpox outbreak. “During our FDA Advisory Committee meeting in May 2018, several committee members emphasized the importance of evaluating the potential use of TPOXX not only to treat smallpox symptomatic infection, but also to treat patients with known smallpox exposure who have not yet developed symptoms,” said Phil Gomez, CEO of SIGA Technologies. “An expansion of the TPOXX label to include its use for PEP would provide greater flexibility to deliver TPOXX to those who might benefit from treatment during a potential outbreak. We have successfully collaborated with a number of U.S. government agencies in the development and approval of TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox, and are pleased to be working with DoD on these important studies.” On July 13, 2018, the FDA approved oral TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox to mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak or bioterror attack. TPOXX, a small-molecule antiviral treatment for smallpox, is the first therapy specifically approved for this indication, and was developed through funding and collaboration with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as early stage development supported by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and DoD. [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Protection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/protection), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/13/GAO-13c260a8.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1324:gao-identifies-key-challenges-in-the-nation-s-ability-to-detect-and-respond-to-biological-events&catid=12) ## [GAO identifies key challenges in the nation's ability to detect and respond to biological events ](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1324:gao-identifies-key-challenges-in-the-nation-s-ability-to-detect-and-respond-to-biological-events&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 05 July 2019. The U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report identifying what it feels are key challenges in the nation's ability to detect and respond to biological events that transcend what a single agency can address. The report is available in full on the [GAO website](https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-19-635T) [Threat](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/threat), [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/7c/USAID_logo-7cb50772.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1323:usaid-pledges-98-million-in-support-for-ebola-outbreak&catid=12) ## [USAID Pledges $98 Million in Support for Ebola Outbreak](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1323:usaid-pledges-98-million-in-support-for-ebola-outbreak&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 04 July 2019. On July 2nd the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced they would be giving $98 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to assist in the fight against the current Ebola outbreak. "With this funding, USAID is providing lifesaving assistance, including infection prevention and control activities, training for health care workers, community engagement interventions, promotion of safe and dignified burials, and food assistance for people and communities affected by Ebola. This assistance is also bolstering preparedness efforts in Goma city for communities at risk of Ebola," the agency said in a press release. As of July 1, health officials have reported at least 2,338 confirmed and probable cases, including at least 1,571 related deaths in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. This Ebola outbreak is the second largest recorded outbreak of the disease, eclipsed only by the 2014 West Africa epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people. This outbreak presents a unique set of challenges, including insecurity and difficulty earning community acceptance for the response. A robust, unified response by the Government of the DRC, United Nations, other Great Lake countries, the United States, and the international community in partnership with local communities must occur and is critical to stopping the spread of the disease. No American personnel have been on the ground in the DRC since they were removed in September 2018 due to the threats of violence. [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/b3/Darpa_Logo-b3f3f4ea.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1322:darpa-deploys-sigma-chemical-sensor-network-at-indy-500&catid=12) ## [DARPA Deploys SIGMA+ Chemical Sensor Network at Indy 500](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1322:darpa-deploys-sigma-chemical-sensor-network-at-indy-500&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 04 July 2019. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency fielded a sensor network to trace radioactive and nuclear materials during the Indianapolis 500 event. DARPA that its SIGMA+ platform networked chemical, radiological and biological threat sensors used by the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to demonstrate its scaling functions. The agency gathered air sampling data via the ChemSIGMA sensors at the 2018 Indianapolis 500 event and released safe chemical stimulants in the race track to test the sensors' capacity in confirming a material's source. “The SIGMA+ network enabled real-time alerts of possible threats to be overlaid on a digital map of the raceway, so security staff could identify, with high accuracy, the type and location of a potential WMD or \[weapons of mass terror\] threat," said Mark Wrobel, SIGMA+ program manager at DARPA's Defense Sciences Office. CWMD also partnered with the Indianapolis Police Department to install a biological detection tool at the motor speedway to study the different environmental conditions that may occur during the race. [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/47/DHS_ST-47bed3b1.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1320:snapshot-s-t-nustl-supports-first-responder-radiological-preparedness&catid=12) ## [Snapshot: S&T NUSTL Supports First Responder Radiological Preparedness](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1320:snapshot-s-t-nustl-supports-first-responder-radiological-preparedness&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 04 July 2019. A radiological dispersal device (RDD), or “dirty bomb,” detonation in a local jurisdiction will have significant consequences for public safety, responder health and critical infrastructure operations. First responders and emergency managers must quickly assess the hazard, issue protective action recommendations, triage and treat the injured, and secure the scene in support of the individuals, families and businesses in the impacted community. This is why, in 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [Science and Technology Directorate](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology) (S&T) [National Urban Security Technology Laboratory](https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/national-urban-security-technology-laboratory) (NUSTL), in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) published guidance for first responders and emergency managers on how to plan for the first minutes of an RDD detonation response. The [Radiological Dispersal Device Response Guidance Planning for the First 100 Minutes](https://www.dhs.gov/publication/st-frg-rdd-response-guidance-planning-first-100-minutes) is the result of years of scientific research and experimentation conducted by DOE laboratories – Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and Sandia National Laboratories – coupled with S&T NUSTL’s direct conversations with first responders about operationalizing and documenting the scientific recommendations. The Guidance includes five missions and ten tactics to address initial response efforts. It is intended to be engaging and easy to use, allowing communities to plug in their specific assets, agencies and response protocols. “The Guidance provides emergency planners and first responders across the nation with a playbook of best practices to start from in planning for a RDD detonation response,” said Ben Stevenson, Program Manager at S&T NUSTL. Now that the Guidance is published, S&T’s NUSTL is leading efforts to make it accessible to the responder communities who will need to incorporate it into their planning efforts and to state and federal partners that will support the response. ### Animating the Guidance To support responder understanding of the missions and tactics described in the RDD Response Guidance, S&T’s NUSTL worked with DOE’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to animate the missions and tactics. Using a realistic RDD detonation scenario, the team developed short training clips that can be used to: - Instruct response actions; - Show appropriate personal protective equipment; and - Provide realistic radiological readings that responders may see during a response. These are available on S&T’s website and also on the [RadResponder](https://www.dhs.gov/redirect?url=http://www.radresponder.net/) platform. ### Training the Nation S&T’s NUSTL is working with several organizations to disseminate the key missions and tactics of the Guidance as well as the animations to responders across the nation. On the immediate horizon are: 1. The development of a train-the-planner course for emergency planners training federal personnel located regionally across the country who support state and local activities; 2. The publication of templated RDD detonation exercise materials that first responders, Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs) and other partners can use individually or collaboratively. On the first effort, S&T’s NUSTL, FEMA’s National Training and Education Division, and the Counterterrorism Operations Support Center for Radiological Nuclear Training are designing a training specifically for emergency planners who are generally responsible for writing and organizing emergency response plans for local communities. This train-the-planner course will be offered as a mobile course and yield the basis of an RDD response plan for a local community. This course will be piloted in the coming year before it is finalized within the FEMA course catalog in 2021. “Partnering with other agencies to develop and deliver the train-the-planner course brought together expertise from across the nation to ensure the training course will meet the objectives,” said James Dansby, Program Manager at FEMA. S&T’s NUSTL is also executing two-day train-the-trainer sessions in all eight of the DOE Radiological Assistant Program (RAP) regions. Working with BNL and DOE NNSA, the first day of this training allows representatives in each RAP region to receive training on the Guidance, and on the second day they help the S&T’s NUSTL project team to train regional representatives from their federal, state and local jurisdictions on the key response missions and tactics they learned about on the previous day. This effort will create a cadre who can support state and local understanding of the science behind the RDD Response Guidance for planning purposes. All sessions are scheduled to be complete by August 2019. Dan Blumenthal, Consequence Management Program Manager at DOE NNSA said, “I wanted to make sure the RDD Response Guidance is being adopted at the state and local levels, and that all their questions are being answered. One way to do that is making sure RAP teams are up to speed.” Lastly, S&T’s NUSTL is partnering with Idaho National Laboratory to develop standardized exercise templates for RDD detonation responses that can be used by the National Guard Bureau 57 WMD-CSTs across the country in their required training and exercises, in conjunction with state and local partners. Providing standardized training and exercise procedures, rooted in sound scientific principles and practices from the Guidance will support local radiological preparedness and encourage interagency coordination for radiological/nuclear response and recovery. These templated exercises will be available to state and local partners in 2020. Publishing the RDD Response Guidance is a big step forward in ensuring that state and local first responders have a solid scientific basis of the hazard and an easy-to-adopt method of planning for the initial response. But publishing guidance documents is not enough, and S&T’s NUSTL and its partners will continue working to ensure the recommendations are further integrated into training courses, exercise design documents and national response protocols. True preparedness for radiological emergencies comes from good coordination and communication between agencies and protocols at the local, state and federal levels, and S&T’s NUSTL will continue to execute research and development projects that, while focusing on supporting first responder radiological capabilities, benefit a comprehensive capability across agencies and levels of government. [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Radiological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/radiological), [Training](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/training) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/ae/holtec_logo-ae494b43.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1319:holtec-completes-acquisition-of-oyster-creek-generating-station&catid=12) ## [Holtec Completes Acquisition of Oyster Creek Generating Station](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1319:holtec-completes-acquisition-of-oyster-creek-generating-station&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 03 July 2019. Holtec International’s subsidiaries completed the ownership transfer and acquisition of the Oyster Creek Generating Station from Exelon Generation on July 1st. This follows the recent approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to transfer the plant’s operating license to Holtec subsidiaries Oyster Creek Environmental Protection, LLC (“OCEP”), as owner, and Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, as operator (“HDI”), for decommissioning. “Our primary goal is to decommission Oyster Creek safely and with the community’s best interests in mind. Many of the excellent plant staff will join our exceptionally qualified engineers as we set a new bar in decommissioning excellence,” said Holtec President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kris Singh. “For nearly 50 years, Oyster Creek served the community by providing safe, efficient, carbon-free electricity. Today, the final chapter in the station’s history begins,” said Bryan Hanson, Exelon Generation’s chief nuclear officer. “We thank all Oyster Creek employees – past and present – for their dedication to safe operations and now, safe decommissioning. Together with Holtec, they are ideally positioned to complete decommissioning safely and swiftly.” As the NRC license holders, OCEP and HDI will be responsible for decommissioning the plant and conservatively managing the plant’s decommissioning trust fund (DTF), which will cover the cost of decommissioning. With today’s announcement, OCEP formally takes ownership of the site, real property and used nuclear fuel. Part of decommissioning is moving the spent nuclear fuel from storage in the spent fuel pool to an onsite dry storage facility called an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), which used to take five or more years after reactor shutdown. Holtec has dry storage systems that allow the transfer to be done in 2.5 years. Within 10 years, OCEP and HDI plan to complete the plant decommissioning process, allowing the land to be returned to productive use. Rendering the site free of all radioactive materials could be realized by shipping the site’s used nuclear fuel to Holtec’s consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility called HI-STORE that the company is presently licensing in New Mexico on land owned by its partner, the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA). In the meantime, the storage canisters containing the spent nuclear fuel will be safely and securely stored at the Oyster Creek site. “Protecting the health and safety of employees, the community and the environment has been a central focus for Oyster Creek throughout its operating history” explained Holtec Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pierre Oneid. “This will continue throughout decommissioning with safety being the focus in everything we do.” More than 200 Oyster Creek employees are staying on to begin the decommissioning effort. Throughout the decommissioning process, specialized industry personnel will join the project at different stages, similar to the plant’s previous refueling outages. This influx of people will in turn have a positive economic impact on local shops, restaurants and hotels. “Lacey Township welcomes Holtec to our community,” added Lacey Township Mayor, Tim McDonald. “Holtec has been open and transparent in communicating with us and we look forward to supporting and working with them to do what’s best for our community.” In addition to Oyster Creek, Holtec previously announced agreements to purchase from Entergy the Indian Point, Palisades and Pilgrim nuclear units, including the independent spent fuel storage facility located at Big Rock Point. The acquisition of Pilgrim, a similar plant to Oyster Creek in Massachusetts, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to occur in the next few weeks. To follow Oyster Creek decommissioning visit [http://www.oystercreekdecom.com](http://www.oystercreekdecom.com/) online. [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/News-Images/s4slogo.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1318:stair4security-making-progress-on-european-standardization-mechanisms&catid=12) ## [STAIR4SECURITY - Making progress on European standardization mechanisms](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1318:stair4security-making-progress-on-european-standardization-mechanisms&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 03 July 2019. A wide range of security threats including man-made and natural risks can result in disruptive events having serious consequences for societal and citizen security. Both public and private stakeholders require adequate solutions in organizations, procedures and technological capabilities in order to be able to respond in a timely and effective manner. Thus, there is a need to develop specific standards that enable various public and private organizations across Europe to be effectively coordinated, ensuring smooth cooperation before, during and after a significant disruptive event. Against this background, the main objective of the STAIR4SECURITY project is to create a collaborative platform as a single-entry point for information on the security sector stemming primarily from research activities in order to allow for better governance of standardization in the Disaster Resilience and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) sectors. The platform will be policy-maker and operational practitioner-driven, aimed at facilitating a better overview of both current and new projects at the European level. It is also aimed at ensuring better coordination between all stakeholders in the crisis management value chain and helps to provide a more efficiently and timely response to the critical needs following an agreed strategic vision and identified priorities. Led by European Standardization organisation, CEN, the STAIR4SECURITY consortium comprises of 11 partners. One of the important tasks that the project is undertaking is a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of standardization tools and mechanisms, which encapsulates the CEN-CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA) process and the possibility of introducing a fast-track procedure for adoption of CWAs as European standards (EN). This work is jointly led by the national standards organizations, AFNOR and DIN, with contribution from ASI, SIS and TFC. According to the co-leaders, Camille Cloitre (AFNOR) and Stefanie Müller (DIN): “The undertaking will build on from inputs not only from National Standardization Organizations and Technical Committees but also from stakeholders all around Europe in order to propose a mechanism tailored to their needs.” Recently, the project undertook and completed a pan-European Operational Practitioner’s survey. The findings showed high rates of a lack of awareness of the CWA process in the European security sector, but in tandem, it also showed a great deal of interest for the possibilities offered by this type of document in terms of coordination of all the relevant stakeholder actors across Europe. Significantly, in a common session of the CEN and CENELEC Technical Boards, a proposal was tabled to revise the CEN-CENELEC Guide 23 “Consortium Bridge” and Guide 29 “CEN-CENELEC Workshop Agreements”. In these revisions, it was noted that a main input will be the results of STAIR4SECURITY, especially the outcomes of the surveys related to the process of CWA and recommendations for “Fast Track Procedure”, the smooth transformation of Workshop Agreements, if required, into European Standards. This is a not only a great recognition of the STAIR4SECURITY project but it should make the relevant deliverables of the Horizon 2020 project more sustainable far beyond the end of the project and that is important for our work. [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Doctrine](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/doctrine) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/templates/yootheme/cache/b3/biohazard-148696_1280-b3c4e06b.png)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1315:russian-federation-uzbekistan-security-council-agree-to-cooperate-on-biosecurity&catid=12) ## [Russian Federation, Uzbekistan Security Council Agree to Cooperate on Biosecurity](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1315:russian-federation-uzbekistan-security-council-agree-to-cooperate-on-biosecurity&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 02 July 2019. As reported by Interfax: The Russian Federation Security Council press secretary, Yevgeniy Anoshin, informed journalists that the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev, and his counterpart from Uzbekistan, Viktor Makhmudov, signed a memorandum in Ufa on mutual understanding between the Security Council offices of the two countries on biosecurity issues. "The representatives noted that considering the cross-border nature of such risks and threats, joint and coordinated actions to prevent them are imperative," Anoshin said. The signing took place in Ufa on the sidelines of the international meeting of high representatives, responsible for overseeing security issues. In April, Patrushev, presenting at the Moscow Security Conference, noted that the accelerating pace of scientific and technical progress makes it possible to create attack weapons using new technologies, including genetics and synthetic biology fields. The Russian Federation Security Council secretary stated that such means are often no less lethal than weapons of mass destruction. [Security](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/security), [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Biological](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/biological) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/News-Images/SRI-international-squarelogo.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:sri-win-darpa-chemical-sensors-contract&catid=12) ## [SRI Win DARPA Chemical Sensors Contract](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1314:sri-win-darpa-chemical-sensors-contract&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 02 July 2019. [SRI International](https://www.sri.com/) has been awarded a multi-year $11.6 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop advanced chemical sensors that can support detection of chemical threats in complex urban environments. The system, called Localization and Characterization of Chemical Anomalies in Urban Settings (LOCCUS), will be developed under DARPA's [SIGMA+ Program](https://www.darpa.mil/program/sigma-plus). LOCCUS will be designed for deployment on vehicles that can move through a city to detect trace levels of precursors – chemicals that are used to make WMDs such as chemical weapons and explosives. "*LOCCUS will combine two orthogonal high-performance chemical detection technologies to surpass the sensing capabilities currently possible with a single sensing approach," said Ashish Chaudhary, Ph.D., SRI senior program manager and principal investigator of LOCCUS. "This high-sensitivity, high-endurance detection capability will demonstrate scalability, longevity and cost-effectiveness."* *"*SRI will lead a collaborative effort with subcontractors Block MEMS, Signature Science, and Two Six Labs. SRI's micro mass spectrometer technology will enable the system to conduct two-dimensional chemical mapping as the vehicle drives through an area by leveraging point sensing to analyze chemical composition of ambient air. Block MEMS' technology will leverage an eye-safe laser capability to generate chemical maps via standoff sensing in a complex three-dimensional urban topography. *"SRI is committed to developing high-impact solutions to critical problems related to national security, and this program is at the heart of our dedication to continue those strides," said Scott Seaton, president, SRI's Advanced Technology and Systems Division. "We greatly appreciate DARPA's confidence in our technologies and operational approach."* [Detection](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/detection), [CBRNe](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/cbrne), [Chemical](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/chemical), [Contract](https://cbrneworld.com/component/tags/tag/contract) [![](https://cbrneworld.com/images/events/Canada_programme_front_page.png#thumbnail=%2C&srcset=1)](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1310:cbrne-convergence-canada-presentations-now-available&catid=12) ## [CBRNe Convergence Canada Presentations Now Available](https://cbrneworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1310:cbrne-convergence-canada-presentations-now-available&catid=12) Written by Zoe Rutherford on 01 July 2019. The presentations from CBRNe Convergence Canada are now available [here ](http://cbrneconvergence.com/) ## Schema ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "News", "item": "https://cbrneworld.com/news" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Subscribers", "item": "https://cbrneworld.com/news/subscribers" } ] } ```