LEAD, S.D. – The South Dakota National Guard’s 82nd Civil Support Team paired up with personnel from the Sanford Underground Research Facility to conduct an emergency response training exercise at the Homestake Mine, Nov. 15.
South Dakota’s all-hazard response team and Sanford’s emergency response team used the exercise as an opportunity to train together to respond to the release of chemical, biological or radioactive agents.
The exercise was designed around a scenario in which Sanford’s emergency response personnel noticed an unidentified disturbing odor coming from the education and research building. The team suspected it could be a type of hazardous material and notified law enforcement officials of the potential threat, who then contacted the 82nd based at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
The 82nd CST dispatched their rapid response package, which includes 10 personnel and equipment transported by two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
“The point of today’s exercise is to use our rapid response package, which sends a small team ahead of the rest of us,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Sgt. Alex Raber, communications noncommissioned officer for the 82nd. “They can get here and have idea of what we are dealing with before the rest of our assets are on site. This type of response can be used for missions that are in hard to reach areas; that are not easy to access with our vehicles.”
The chances of the CST team being called to respond to an incident at the Sanford Underground Research Facility is low, but may become more likely as the site becomes known around the world.
The National Science Foundation selected the Homestake Mine as the preferred site for a proposed national Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in 2007.
“Our overall mission here is to provide beneficial space for science,” said Tom Regan, Sanford Underground Research Facility environmental health and safety support. “We see this becoming more of an educational and outreach campus in support of science.”
The CST and the Sanford Underground Laboratory personnel both benefit from training together.
“This is great for our team to learn from the 82nd CST. With their expertise, it gives us a sense of security in knowing they are nearby ready to help if needed,” said Regan. “We also appreciate the opportunity to host the South Dakota National Guard by giving them a place to train in a different environment.”