FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? DOJ
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2002?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 202/307-0703
GLENDALE, ARIZONA RECEIVES $310,000 TO
PURCHASE SPECIALIZED TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Justice Department
announced today that Glendale, Arizona will receive $310,000 to purchase
specialized domestic preparedness training equipment for local hazardous
materials, fire services, law enforcement and emergency medical services
personnel.? The award is part of the
Department?s Nunn-Lugar-Domenici (NLD) Domestic Preparedness Program, and will
allow the city to purchase personal protection, detection, and decontamination
training equipment to help emergency responders prepare for terrorist attacks.
?Our nation?s emergency first responders must
have adequate resources, training and support to respond to terrorist
attacks.? This program demonstrates this
Administration?s commitment to provide resources and assistance to bolster the
nation?s preparedness,? said Attorney General John Ashcroft.? ?The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic
Preparedness Program combines equipment acquisition funds with a training and
exercise component that comprehensively addresses the unique challenges facing
this nation?s cities in the fight against terrorism.?
In 1997, the NLD Program identified the
nation?s 120 largest cities as a priority to receive training, exercises and
equipment funds to enhance their capacity to respond to weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) incidents.? The program, now
administered by the Department?s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP),
provides eligible jurisdictions with a tailored suite of training, exercises
and equipment acquisition support to enhance their capacity to respond to
incidents of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD).? These funds represent the equipment
component of the NLD initiative.?
The NLD Program was operated by the
Department of Defense (DoD) until October 1, 2000, when it was transferred to
the Justice Department.? DoD completed
delivery of all program elements to 68 of the 120 cities and initiated, but did
not complete, program activities in 37 additional cities.? The Department of Justice?s ODP is
completing delivery of remaining program activities in those 37 sites, and is
providing a complete program to the last 15 cities.?
The Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) is
the Justice Department's primary program office responsible for enhancing the
capacity of state and local jurisdictions to respond to, and mitigate the
consequences of, incidents of domestic terrorism.? Since 1998, ODP has provided nearly $250 million in equipment
grants to all 50 states, the territories and the District of Columbia, and has
provided training to more than 100,000 emergency first responders.
For more information on the Office of
Domestic Preparedness (ODP) and other OJP programs, please see OJP's Website
at:? www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.
Media calls should be directed to David Hess
in OJP?s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703 or
877/859-8704 (pager).?
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