FBI Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation
""
Home Site Map FAQs
grey and red line grey line

Contact Us
Your Local FBI Office
Overseas Offices
Submit a Crime Tip
Report Internet Crime
More Contacts

Learn About Us

Quick Facts
What We Investigate
Natl. Security Branch
Information Technology
Fingerprints & Training
Laboratory Services
Reports & Publications
History
More About Us

Get Our News

Press Room
E-mail Updates Red Envelope
News Feeds XML Icon

Be Crime Smart

Wanted by the FBI
More Protections

Use Our Resources

For Law Enforcement
For Communities
For Researchers
More Services

Visit Our Kids' Page


Apply for a Job

 
Photos of the type of work that is done at the Laboratory.  Below the photo display is a blue background with a photo of the Laboratory building faded in the background with white links on top of the image.
Hazardous Material Response

Mission
The Hazardous Material Response Unit (HMRU) responds to criminal acts and incidents that involve hazardous materials (HAZMAT). The unit also develops technical proficiency and readiness for crime scene and evidence-related operations in cases involving chemical, biological, and radiological materials and wastes and trains U.S. and international law enforcement in these skills. It also provides site safety oversight of FBI personnel operating in other high hazard crime scenes, including collapsed structures and confined spaces.

The Team
Special agents, physical security specialists (HAZMAT & Nuclear), chemists, microbiologists, management and program analysts, and logistics management specialist


The Work

  • Assist FBI investigations by deploying to hazardous crime scenes, including reports of ricin, anthrax, and other biological and chemical attacks;


  • Support other Divisions within the FBI by providing assessments and 280 conference calls of incidents involving HAZMAT;


  • Provide response readiness at special events, including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions; Olympic Games; Presidential Debates; and at each Super Bowl game;


  • In coordination with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the FBI's International Training Unit, support the U.S. Government’s Counter-Proliferation Program by providing training to law enforcement personnel in former Soviet bloc countries. The training provided includes instruction in HAZMAT operations, Incident Command, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Crime Scene Operations.


  • Provide technical and scientific response to FBI investigations involving HAZMAT, including WMD;


  • Provide operational response and scientific consultation for FBI Headquarters divisions, training and equipping field Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) personnel. The HMRU provides support to National Security Special Events and FBI special events, as well as site safety overviews at high hazard FBI crime scenes; and


  • Provide HAZMAT Operations, WMD Crime Scene, HAZMAT Biology, HAZMAT Nuclear, and HAZMAT Chemistry training to support HMRU and HMRT operations.


  • Home