6th CST - Texas Military Department

The 6th WMD-CST is dedicated to supporting civil authorities during natural or man-made domestic CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives) incidents by identifying hazardous agents and substances, assessing the current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with additional support requests.

With a team of 22 full-time National Guard personnel, certified HAZMAT Technicians in every state, and a commitment to enhancing local capabilities without duplicating efforts, we are a federally funded asset providing no-cost, trusted, professional CBRNe advice.

Our purpose is to serve external agencies with timely support, specializing in managing low frequency, high consequence events.

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Support civil authorities responding to a natural or man-made domestic CBRN incident:

Identify CBRNe agents/substances

Assess current and projected consequences

Advise on response measures

Assist with appropriate requests for additional support

6th CST training on laboratory recognition — The 6th CST, along with participants from Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth Fire Departments, travel to Dugway Proving Grounds, UT to conduct intensive training on CWA/BWA synthesis and laboratory recognition

6th CST provides on-location training in technical decontamination, sampling, and JHAT Operations to Frisco Fire Department

6th CST science section analyzes water samples in support of TCEQ and City of San Angelo after reports of a chemical smell coming from the water and the issuance of a boil water notice

Support Provided:
•Background radiation mapping
•Remote air monitoring
•Mobile radiation detection
•Communication support
•Analytical support
•Joint Hazard Assessment/Interdiction Teams

Events Supported:
-World Series -State Funerals -Bush 41
-Super Bowl -Governor’s Inauguration -NCAA Final Four
-World Petroleum Congress -MotoGP -Fiesta-San Antonio
-Formula 1 -ACM Awards

December 2021– 6th CST dispatches 8-person strike team in support of Houston PD and FBI to conduct search of abandoned laboratory in connection with a mercury spill
August 2022 – 6th CST dispatches 3-person strike team at the request of the FBI to investigate a suspected white powder letter sent to the Uvalde County Judge in the aftermath of the Robb Elementary School shooting
October 2022 – 6th CST dispatches a 4-person strike team at the request of local law enforcement to provide field screening of suspicious barrels found dumped along the roadside

CST Team Full Response

CST Natural Disaster Response

Utilizes specialized equipment to detect/identify CBRN hazards in the hotzone.
•Conduct CBRN reconnaissance
•Provide site and hazard characterization
•Presumptive hazard ID inside the contaminated area
•Collect CBRN samples for confirmatory analysis
•Follow sampling protocols and chain of custody
•Conduct field screening prior to laboratory analysis
◦All equipment meets OSHA/NFPA safety requirements◦
survey team in HAZMAT survey team incident response survey team vehicles

Select, establish, and control decontamination corridor between hot and cold zones.
•Establish technical decontamination
•Establish emergency decontamination with medical section
•Select decontamination solution based on hazard
•Post monitor entry personnel; prevent cross contamination
•Bag and mark hazardous waste
proper disposal HAZMAT suit

Provide medical and analytical support to the team and incident commander.
•Analyze hazard health signs and symptoms
•Monitor entry personnel vital signs / exposure reports
•Medical countermeasures and hospital coordination
•Determine sample points and communicate to survey
•Lab analysis of samples
•Reachback to state and federal laboratories
◦The WMD-CST Laboratory Program is accredited by the American Association for Lab Accreditation to conform to ISO 17025 Standards◦
medical response Medical Response Vehicle Analytical Laboratory System Interior

Provide incident area interoperable communications
•Unit and IC voice and data network support
•Support common operating picture
•Reach-back access to state and federal agencies
•Interop through cross-banding frequencies
•Maintain COMSEC
◦All UCS Operators are certified to meet DoD Directive 8570.01M Change 3 Information Assurance Standards◦
communications equipment 1 communications equipment 2

Interface with civilian incident command system and sync efforts in support of IC objectives.
•Plume analysis and hazard model, monitor wind shift
•Meet reporting requirements to state/NGB JOC
•Maintain common operating picture and incident log
•Conduct interagency coordination
•Provide IC with executive summary and closure packet
operations, planning

The 6th CST can deploy advanced echelon within 90 minutes from notification for severe threats.

The KEY triggers for notification:

Suspected or realized WMD situation
Additional capabilities are required for response
Local or federal special security event requires standby CBRN/communications capability