Obama Administration Releases National Strategy for CBRNE Standards

According to a new document released by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) agents remain a grave threat to U.S. citizens. Emergency response teams nationwide require reliable, interoperable CBRNE equipment to be used in the protection of life, health, property, and commerce.

The National Strategy for CBRNE Standards lays out a federal vision for the coordination, prioritization, establishment, and implementation of CBRNE equipment standards by 2020. The Strategy describes the elements of a standards and testing infrastructure needed to counter CBRNE threats, including an integrated standards development approach that spans performance, interoperability, testing and evaluation, conformity assessment, operating procedures, training, and certification.

Specifically, the Strategy outlines six goals to achieve technical performance and interoperability of CBRNE technology, equipment deployment, and effective user training:

1. Establish an interagency group for CBRNE standards to promote the coordination of these standards among federal, state, local, and tribal communities
2. Coordinate and facilitate the development of CBRNE equipment performance standards and promote the use of standards for federal, state, local, and tribal communities
3. Coordinate and facilitate the development and adoption of interoperability standards for CBRNE equipment
4. Promote enduring CBRNE standard operating procedures for federal, state, local, and tribal use to improve National preparedness and response
5. Establish voluntary CBRNE training and certification standards for the federal, state, local, and tribal communities and promote policies that foster their adoption
6. Establish a comprehensive CBRNE equipment testing and evaluation (T&E) infrastructure and capability to support conformity assessment standards

Released by the OSTP in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), the Strategy was created by the Cabinet-level National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), which coordinates interagency science and technology policies within the Executive Branch.

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