If you are serving Nato military personnel that are either going to CBRNe Convergence Canada, or likely to be in Ottawa on the 11th of April we have the inestimable Christina Baxter providing a free workshop on the potential Russian CW in Ukraine 

In the last week there has been a lot of talk about whether Russian forces may use CW on the citizens of Ukraine to further their war effort. This has been discussed by manym with varying opinions. 

One thing that has been reported on however, is that Russian forces are distributing “gas masks” among their troops in eastern Ukraine, according to a senior Ukrainian official who suggested that Russian forces might orchestrate a chemical attack under false pretenses.

Ambassador Oksana Markarova told reporters at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington that “occupation forces are also handing out, actively, gas masks to local militants and the Russian military in Donetsk Oblast,” citing Ukrainian intelligence reports.

“So we are making this information public to warn that there might be a possibility of provocation. There are different versions of what would they do, [perhaps] after blowing up some industrial tanks with chemicals,” she continued.

“Marge, it takes two to lie. One to lie, and one to listen.”

The Simpsons, Colonel Homer

On this day in Canadian history, March 10, 1915, the Canadian Expeditionary Force takes part in the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, during the First World War. This is the first real offensive in which Canadians participate. About 100 Canadians lose their lives in the engagement. 

To get 20% off your CBRNe Convergence Canada registration fee, use code OTD100320 (code will be live for 48hrs)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., today announced the launch of a new rapid environmental test to help in the fight against COVID-19. The Thermo Scientific Renvo Rapid PCR Test is the latest solution in the company’s in-air pathogen surveillance product portfolio. The Renvo Rapid PCR Test is performed on air samples collected using the company’s Thermo Scientific AerosolSense Sampler.

he Renvo Rapid PCR Test is designed for environmental surveillance only, rather than diagnostic purposes, in communal locations such as schools, businesses, healthcare facilities, government buildings and other public areas. This easy-to-use solution provides fast, highly accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens through indoor air sampling, enabling users to perform SARS-CoV-2 testing of air samples on- site, without the need for specialized training or sending samples to a lab for analysis.

The system uses proprietary Oscar PCR technology to shorten thermocycling times and produce on-site SARS-CoV-2 air sample results in just 30 minutes, a marked improvement over the four to 24-hour testing turnaround time previously available using the AerosolSense Sampler testing service. This faster response time enables quick decision making and strengthening of risk mitigation strategies for communal locations and facilities.

“As the world learns to live with COVID-19 and adapts to the rapidly changing dynamics of new variants, there is a clear need for heightened surveillance and testing of indoor air quality,” said Siqi Tan, vice president and general manager of environmental and process monitoring at Thermo Fisher. “For facilities that already have our AerosolSense Samplers, the Renvo Rapid PCR Test can be used as an accessory to strengthen their testing processes. The powerful combination of the AerosolSense Sampler and the Renvo Rapid PCR Test offers fast, highly accurate environmental surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 for greater peace of mind.”

The Renvo Rapid PCR Test is the latest addition to Thermo Fisher’s overall response to COVID-19, which includes other PCR testing solutions, virus and epidemiological research, vaccine development and lab products.

For more information, visit www.thermofisher.com/renvo.

On this day in Canadian history, March 8, 1982, the British House of Commons passed the Canada Act, ending British legislative jurisdiction over Canada. Queen Elizabeth II signed the proclamation in Ottawa on April 17.

To get 20% off your CBRNe Convergence Canada registration fee, use code OTD080320

The Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) complex began operations at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) Feb. 19, 2022, marking the start of the final chemical weapons destruction campaign in Colorado. Three units will augment operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) by destroying problematic munitions, including 4.2-inch mortar rounds containing mustard agent.

“The start of this campaign brings us closer to our commitment to the local and international communities to safely eliminate all chemical weapons in the U.S. inventory,” said Walton Levi, site project manager, PCAPP. “As with current and previous projectile destruction campaigns, safety will remain the top priority as we eliminate the mortar rounds.”

The SDC units are armored, stainless steel vessels, which use thermal destruction methods to destroy munitions. The electrically heated vessels detonate the munitions to destroy the agent and munitions components, and gases are treated by a pollution abatement system.

“SDCs are the safest way to destroy the 4.2-inch mortars and problematic rounds,” said Todd Ailes, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. “After the munitions are loaded onto conveyors, the process is controlled remotely by control room operators, minimizing risk to the workforce.”

Throughout the campaign, the PCAPP team will work closely with PCD personnel. Since the early 1950s, the depot has stored three mustard agent munition types: 155mm projectiles, 105mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds. On Sept. 5, 2020, workers completed destruction of nearly 300,000 155mm projectiles, marking the end of the first munitions destruction campaign. Since the start of the 105mm campaign on Dec. 11, 2020, more than 275,000 projectiles have been destroyed. As of Feb. 11, a total of 2,172 tons of mustard agent has been destroyed at the depot.

“For nearly seven decades, the depot has ensured these weapons remain safe and secure prior to destruction,” said Col. Jason Lacroix, commander, PCD. “Our team will continue to work closely with the Pueblo plant until the 4.2-inch mortar rounds are eradicated.”

Under a multinational arms agreement known as the Chemical Weapons Convention, the U.S. is destroying its remaining chemical weapons stockpile located in Colorado and Kentucky.

“The Static Detonation Chamber units are a safe, reliable and proven technology for the Army,” said Michael S. Abaie, program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives. “We worked diligently to obtain the necessary permits to ensure these units operate in compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations,” said Abaie.

The Static Detonation Chamber is a type of Explosive Destruction Technology that was first used by the U.S. Army to destroy problematic chemical munitions in Alabama, which completed agent destruction operations at the Anniston Army Depot in 2011. Subsequently, from 2019 to 2021, an SDC was used in Kentucky at the Blue Grass Army Depot to destroy more than 15,000 mustard-filled munitions. The Blue Grass site is now preparing to use two units to destroy drained rocket warheads and overpacked munitions.

The stockpile sites in Colorado and Kentucky account for the last 10% of what was originally a national stockpile of more than 30,000 tons of chemical weapons. The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity destroyed the initial 90%, stored at seven other sites across the U.S. and on Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Chemical weapons stockpile destruction began in March 2015 in Colorado and June 2019 in Kentucky. Both sites are on target to complete the destruction of chemical weapons by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. U.S. Public Law mandates stockpile destruction by Dec. 31, 2023.

In Pueblo, eliminating the chemical weapons stockpile is the Army’s final mission at the depot. An organization known as PuebloPlex is pursuing sustainable, long-term economic development opportunities for the land following chemical demilitarization.

HDIAC is pleased to host Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Development (UASPD) Training on April 4-5, 2022, at SURVICE Engineering in Belcamp, MD.

This training event is a 2-day course. Day 1 covers Drone Assessment and Response Tactics (DART), and Day 2 covers Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Development (UASPD).

This FREE course is for state and local first responders, law enforcement, fire service, and security directors/managers. For more information, and to register visit the HDIAC website here

DRONE ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE TACTICS (DART)

This course provides first responders and emergency managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to detect, identify, track, assess, respond, and report UAS activity. Participants are presented with information on the current UAS terrorist and criminal threat, technology, and analog and electronic detection techniques. Participants are guided through demonstrations and exercises on the varying UAS types, their capabilities, and simulated threats involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Learning Objectives

• Recognize UAS uses and components.
• Recognize the threat posed by the criminal and terrorist use of commercially available UAS technology.
• Identify counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) tactics available to emergency first responders.
• Recognize regulations, laws, and policies pertaining to the use of UASs.
• Discuss C-UAS tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used throughout a case study.
• Identify TTPs to detect UAS activity using visual, audio, or technological resources.
• Distinguish between types of UASs, payloads, and legal/safe operations.
• Recognize effective methods to track UAS activity and communicate to appropriate authorities.
• Assess UAS activity and recommend response options and considerations.
• Discuss response considerations to respond and deter unsafe, unauthorized, illegal, or terrorist UAS activity.
• Understand evidence collection and reporting UAS activity to appropriate agencies.

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (UASPD)

The goal is to aid first responders and emergency agencies in the development, implementation, and sustainment of a department or agency’s small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) program. This course provides class participants with the knowledge and tools required for establishing sUAS program goals; deciding if an agency is best suited by sUAS operations options under 14 CFR part 107 or operating sUAS programs as a public aircraft operation (PAO); requesting waivers and airspace authorizations; and developing standard operating procedures (SOPs). This course will provide an understanding of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations governing 14 CFR part 107 operations, along with statutory requirements for public aircraft operations, and present a review of government agency sUAS program best practices.

Learning Objectives

• Understand FAA regulations for public aircraft operations.
• Understand which operational options are most appropriate for their agency.
• Identify best practices and SOP procedures.
• Understand requirements for requesting waivers and airspace authorizations.
• Identify aircraft and equipment options available.

The Dutch food safety body, NVWA, has issued a warning about three-litre bottles of Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial champagne following a second incident that has sickened people. It appears the bottles in question may be spiked with high doses of MDMA. 

In Germany, in mid-February, a group of people showed signs of poisoning after consuming the champagne, eight people were taken to hospital, one subsequently died. Police in Germany are investigating this as a case of homicide.

On February 25th reports emerged of four people being taken ill in the Netherlands after consuming the same brand, and sized, bottle as those in Germany. The NVWA has said it does not know how the drug ended up in the champagne but said both in Germany and the Netherlands the bottles had been purchased via an ‘as yet unknown website’. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment has said this makes it difficult to determine if other Moët & Chandon types of champagne have also been affected. 

Moët & Chandon has been warned about the incident, and the NVWA has released the label code of the bottles that may be affected LAJ7QAB6780004. They have also released advice on how to spot if champagne may be contaminated: If it contains MDMA it will not be fizzy and the colour will be a reddish brown. It will also smell of aniseed.

Originally published by https://www.dvidshub.net/news/

American Soldiers from Nuclear Disablement Team 2 toured a British Civil Nuclear Constabulary facility during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Soldiers from NDT 2 visited the Griffin Park Tactical Training Centre at the Sellafield Site and met with personnel from the British police force charged with protecting nuclear sites and nuclear materials in England, Scotland and Wales.

Part of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, more than 1,600 British police officers and staff members serve in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

NDT 2 Soldiers spent five days in the United Kingdom in preparation for Exercise Dark Sleeper. During the upcoming exercise, NDT 2 will conduct characterization training within the Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant facility on the Sellafield Site. The exercise will be the first time that one of the U.S. Army's Nuclear Disablement Teams have trained in the United Kingdom.

The team is one of three NDTs from the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier all hazards formation.

The teams provide advanced forensics and attribution capabilities during overseas and domestic missions in support of the 2018 Department of Defense Nuclear Posture Review.

NDTs directly contribute to the nation’s strategic deterrence by staying ready to exploit and disable nuclear and radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction infrastructure and components to deny near-term capability to adversaries. They also facilitate follow-on WMD elimination operations.

In addition to the NDT 1 “Manhattan,” NDT 2 “Iron Maiden” and NDT 3 “Vandals,” the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland-headquartered 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the Active Duty U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity and five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams.

From 19 posts in 16 states, Soldiers and civilians from the 20th CBRNE Command take on the world’s most dangerous hazards in support of joint, interagency and allied operations.

Maj. Neal J. Trump, a nuclear operations officer from NDT 2, said CNC personnel from the Sellafield Site coordinated the visit to the “world-class facility.”

“They knew it would be of interest to the NDTs since we are a military unit,” said Trump, an Iraq veteran and former infantry officer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who has commanded Soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division and 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Old Guard). “The highlight of the visit was their sprawling and very impressive four-story indoor live-fire shoot house.”

originally published in https://www.golocalprov.com/

A Boston law firm filed a products liability lawsuit on Wednesday on behalf of 14 Massachusetts firefighters in the United States District Court of Massachusetts against 28 manufacturing companies, including 3M Company, DuPont, Chemguard and Tyco Fire Products.

The firefighters allege in the lawsuit that their turnout gear (protective clothing) contained toxic human-made forever chemicals known as PFAS, to resist and repel oil, heat and water. PFAS chemicals have been associated with cancer, tumors, liver damage, immune system and endocrine disorders, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. PFAS exposure to humans can occur through inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact.

According to Walter Kelley, Managing Attorney of the firm’s Massachusetts office, “Scientists believe the toxic chemicals in the outer shell and moisture barrier of turnouts can off-gas and degrade into microscopic toxic dust particles that can be absorbed into the skin through sweat or be inhaled.”

The firefighters in this lawsuit served the cities and towns of Worcester, Norwood, Brockton, Fall River, and Boston as firefighters and worked in various fire stations, engine, truck, and specialized companies throughout the State of Massachusetts for decades. The firefighters all had significantly elevated levels of PFAS in their blood and were diagnosed with cancers (prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) after many years of being exposed to PFAS chemicals in their turnout gear.

“Sadly, it is too late to prevent the harm that too many brave firefighters across the country have been forced to needlessly endure from the equipment they thought was protecting them. It is time to hold the manufacturers and distributors of these cancer-causing chemicals fully accountable to injured firefighters and effectuate meaningful change in the chemical industry that will protect future generations of firefighters,” said Kelley.

DroneShield Limited an Australian/US provider of Artificial Intelligence based platforms for protection against advanced threats such as drones and autonomous systems and Allen-Vanguard, a US owned provider of Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) solutions with facilities in the UK & North America, have today announced a partnership between their companies.
 
Both companies are respective global leaders in their fields. DroneShield’s Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) solutions include a variety of multi-mission AI-powered C-UAS platforms such as RfPatrol body-worn sensor, DroneGun portable countermeasure, DroneSentry-X on-the-move system and DroneSentry base protection system. Allen-Vanguard have an extensive C-IED history and portfolio of solutions that has been bolstered in recent years by their ANCILE C-UAS system, an operationally proven and highly effective RF Countermeasure.
 
Oleg Vornik, DroneShield CEO, commented, “Many of our customers have mission sets that require both C-UAS and C-IED solutions. By combining our solutions, both from technical and commercial distribution point of view, we can provide a more complete offering to the existing respective customers of both companies, as well as collaborate on channels to market. There are presently a number of active combined opportunities that we are excited to be pursuing.”
 
Michael Dithurbide, Allen-Vanguard President, commented, “Allen-Vanguard comes from a rich, multi-decade C-IED heritage, providing scores of Tier 1 militaries globally with effective and robust capability solutions. With C-UAS a rapidly rising and often overlapping threat, we are pleased to partner with DroneShield, a leader in this space, to collaborate from a technical and commercial perspective to meet the exacting needs of our global customer base.