The Department of Defense notified Congress yesterday that Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST) have been certified for four states.
These teams are fully ready to assist civil authorities in responding to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident and possess the requisite skills, training, and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.
The teams are the 13th WMD-CST in Coventry, R.I., the 14th WMD-CST in Windsorlock, Conn., the 42nd WMD-CST in Greenville, N.C., and the 102nd WMD-CST in Salem, Ore.
Eight of the 12 teams authorized in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 are currently certified. The four teams that have not yet been certified are nearing completion of the certification process.
All 32 of the teams authorized in fiscal years 1999-2001 have already been certified bringing the total number of certified teams to 40. Congress has authorized a total of 55 WMD-CSTs, enough to field at least one team in every state, territory and the District of Columbia.The final eleven teams were authorized in fiscal year 2005 and they will be certified by March 2007.