Agency or Department Name Here (for pda/handhelds)

Accomplishments for Goal #3 HAZ MAT/Explosive Device Response

Hazardous Materials and Bomb Squad
Under Governor O’Malley the state has overcome an information gap on the capabilities of bomb and hazmat teams statewide and has focused on developing and tracking equipment, capabilities, and response time.  The responsibilities for the unique situations involving chemicals or suspected explosives are distributed across a variety of local and state entities and prior to 2007, the State had collected very little data on statewide or regional capability.  Overcoming information gaps and forging partnerships has become the main area of focus as the State looks to form a more cohesive and coordinated response coalition. Following are key projects and accomplishments:

• Every region in Maryland has access to a Type 1 bomb squad whose members are trained at the FBI’s national training center.  Bomb squad coverage is provided by the State and six local jurisdictions that have their own teams (Ocean City, Annapolis City, Baltimore City, and Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Baltimore Counties).  The community of bomb technicians in Maryland consists of several highly trained individuals.  Bomb Response teams that are designated Type I are the most highly trained and are able to respond and effectively mitigate most hazardous device incidents.  Maryland Bomb Squads participate in joint-training opportunities and Maryland Bomb Squad Commanders meet on a quarterly basis to share information and discuss issues of mutual concern.

• Purchased state-of-the-art bomb disrupter and render-safe equipment for the State and local Bomb Response Teams.  The State has helped secure more than $2 million in federal funds since 2007 for the Bomb Response Teams that serve Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.  The new equipment includes Vehicle-Bourne IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) Disruptors and Access Systems, response vehicles, X-ray enhancements, and additional protective bomb suits.  Since 2007, the State has also secured federal funding to purchase disrupter tools, response vehicles, and other critical equipment for Bomb Response teams in Annapolis City, Baltimore City and Baltimore County.  In addition, the State helped to secure more than $250,000 in federal funds for the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) State Bomb Team.  This funding will help the OSFM to fill some of the identified resource gaps by upgrading the existing bomb robot located in Southern Maryland, to purchase a response vehicle, and enhanced IED render safe tools.     

• Since 2010, all Bomb Squad Response Teams have assembled a team of certified bomb technicians on-scene within one hour to at least 95 percent of all incident calls.  In 2007, the State set a statewide goal of responding on-site to all incidents within one hour of notification.  By the beginning of 2010, all local Bomb Response Teams were reporting monthly bomb response data to the State Fire Marshal and demonstrating that all teams (including the State Bomb Response Team, which is responsible for responding to incidents in urban and rural areas) are able to respond to at least 95 percent of calls within one hour.  In addition, all Maryland Bomb Response teams contribute data to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm’s Bomb and Arson Tracking System.
  

• Governor O’Malley signed the Regional Bomb Squad Readiness and Coordination Executive Order on August 9, 2011.  This Executive Order formally recognizes the framework that the State’s seven Bomb Squads have voluntarily developed to coordinate responses to explosive-related incidents, share equipment and personnel, and improve operations and capabilities.  It directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal to continue its planning efforts with the six local teams on mutual aid sharing, regional response plans, joint training and exercises, and sharing and analyzing performance data. 

• The State Bomb Squad is currently equipping and training a multi-jurisdiction maritime and underwater bomb response team.  The State Bomb Squad was allocated more than $400,000 in federal stimulus funds to develop a joint local and state bomb response team for threats occurring over or under the water such as attacks similar to the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole.  This multi-jurisdictional team is expected to be outfitted with equipment and operational by January of 2012.   

• All regions in Maryland have access to one of the 13 FEMA Type I Hazardous Materials Response Teams that serve the State. These teams are highly trained in handling hazardous materials and meet regularly to discuss interoperability of communications, training, equipment, and procedures. The Maryland Department of Environment’s Haz-Mat Team, which provides statewide coverage, participated in a rail car accident training exercise in July 2011 with Baltimore City Haz-Mat, fire, police, and other city first responders. In 2010, more than 1,050 hazmat incidents were reported in Maryland and 57 percent of all hazardous material reports originated in five jurisdictions in the state: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County.

• Since 2007, the State has invested approximately $500,000 in its statewide Hazardous Materials Response Team, to outfit them with state-of-the-art response equipment.  Maryland’s recent investments includes improved radiation, chemical, and vapor detection and identification equipment; improved equipment for response and mitigation of multiple and large scale hazardous incidents; and enhanced safety equipment for responders contributed to our response; 3,000 feet of open water containment boom; a 25-foot Maritime response vessel; and enhanced protective clothing for responders.