Nuclear Emergency Support Team

Nuclear Emergency Support Team Type: Government Agency Parent organization: National Nuclear Security Administration Top organization: Department of Energy Employees: 900 Executive: Associate Administrator for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation Budget: Address: 1000 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20585, USA Website: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nuclear-emergency-support-team-nest Creation Legislation: Executive Order by President Gerald Ford in 1974 Wikipedia: Nuclear Emergency Support Team

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Mission The Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) provides scientific and technical expertise for emergency response to nuclear and radiological incidents or accidents. It aims to protect public health and safety and support national security by countering weapons of mass destruction.

Services Nuclear incident response; radiological emergency management; nuclear forensics; preventive nuclear detection

Regulations

Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) is a multi-mission nuclear emergency response capability within the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). It responds to radiological and nuclear threats, accidents, and incidents, providing technical expertise to ensure public safety and national security.

Official Site

Mission

The mission of NEST is to leverage the Department of Energy's scientific and technical resources to respond to any radiological or nuclear emergency globally. This includes counterterrorism efforts against weapons of mass destruction, public health protection in the aftermath of nuclear incidents, and support for nuclear forensics to trace the source of nuclear materials.

Parent organization

NEST is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is itself under the United States Department of Energy. NEST works closely with various programs and services within NNSA to fulfill its mission.

Legislation

NEST was established by an Executive Order from President Gerald Ford in 1974, in response to concerns about nuclear threats and accidents.

Partners

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
• Department of Defense
• Department of Homeland Security

Number of employees

NEST has a pool of approximately 900 personnel, including scientists, technicians, and engineers, who can be called upon to respond to incidents.

Organization structure

NEST operates under the NNSA's Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation (CTCP).

Leader

The head of NEST is the Associate Administrator for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation.

Divisions

• Accident Response Group (ARG) for nuclear weapon incidents.
• Aerial Measuring System (AMS) for airborne radiological surveys.
• Nuclear/Radiological Search and Response for threat detection and response.
• Nuclear Forensics for material analysis and origin determination.

List of programs

• Preventive Nuclear and Radiological Detection (PNRD)
• Nuclear Forensics
• Consequence Management Response Team (CMRT)
• Joint Technical Operations Team (JTOT) for counter-WMD operations

Last total enacted budget

Specific budget figures for NEST are not publicly detailed due to the nature of its missions. Funding is part of the broader NNSA budget.

Staff

NEST has a core group of about 70 responders, with an additional pool of around 900 personnel on call, including experts from various scientific and technical fields.

Funding

Funding for NEST comes from the NNSA's budget within the Department of Energy. Details on specific allocations are often classified due to the sensitive nature of its operations.

Services provided

NEST provides services like emergency response to nuclear incidents, including search and recovery, technical advice during nuclear threats, radiological consequence management, and nuclear forensics. They also conduct preventive detection activities before major public events to detect any radiological anomalies.

Regulations overseen

NEST does not oversee regulations but operates under the legal and regulatory frameworks established by the Department of Energy and other relevant federal agencies for nuclear safety and security.

Headquarters address

1000 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20585, USA

History

Created in 1974 by President Gerald Ford, NEST was established to respond to nuclear threats and incidents. Initially focused on nuclear extortion threats, its scope expanded over time to include accident response, nuclear forensics, and preventive measures against nuclear terrorism. NEST has been involved in high-profile responses, including the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

External links

• Official Website
• wikipedia:Nuclear Emergency Support Team