National Urban Security Technology Laboratory is a United States government-owned, government-operated laboratory, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate. It is located in the Federal Office Building at 201 Varick Street in the Hudson Square neighborhood, Manhattan, New York.
The current Laboratory Director is Alice Hong.
Mission
The laboratory's mission is "to test, evaluate, and analyze homeland security capabilities while serving as a technical authority to first responder, state, and local entities in protecting our cities." In fulfilling this mission, the laboratory serves as a federal technical authority promoting the successful development and integration of homeland security technologies into operational end-user environments.
The lab "is constantly developing and testing new tools for our brave first responders to use in the event of a terrorist attack, industrial accident or natural disaster and closely collaborates with law enforcement agencies ..." Rep. Kathleen Rice, a New York Democrat said on the House floor recently. The lab works on a range of issues, including radiological and nuclear response research and development. It also provides a number of services for law enforcement and first responders, working most closely with New York metropolitan area agencies but also around the country.
History
A recounting of the lab's history shows changing missions and sponsors throughout the past 70 years, and in 2017 celebrated "seven decades of remarkable history – from measuring radioactive fallout during the Cold War, to conducting operational assessments of first responder technologies today." The lab started as part of the Atomic Energy Commission followed by The Energy Research and Development Administration and then the US Department of Energy. In 2003, the lab was transferred into the Department of Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate by Sec. 303 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The laboratory's name is its third during its history, following the Health and Safety Laboratory from 1953 to 1977 and the Environmental Measurements Laboratory from 1977 to 2009.
According to reports, the transfer and integration into the Department of Homeland Security was not smooth. A congressional hearing into the transition of the lab was held by the House Committee on Science & Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight on May 3, 2007 entitled "Transitioning the Environmental Measurements Laboratory at the Department of Homeland Security." The Under Secretary for Science & Technology testified that "EML [Environmental Measurements Laboratory] will remain in the S&T [Science & Technology] Directorate; that it will continue to operate, supporting both DNDO [the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office] and other DHS [Homeland Security] organizations; and that it will remain in its current location." Media coverage focused on the "incredible mismanagement" of the transition and the ultimate decision to keep the lab open.
In 2009, the name of the lab was changed from the Environmental Measurements Laboratory to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory.
In an interview published in 2011, laboratory director Adam Hutter said the lab is "the last remaining federal facility from the Manhattan Project which is still located in Manhattan."
An article in the scientific journal Health Physics was published in 2018 titled: "Sidekicks to the Heroes: How Science and Technology Support First Responders (And How You Can Too)" details the history and current work of NUSTL.
Current Work
According to proposed Congressional authorization, "as a DHS S&T federal laboratory, NUSTL conducts research, development, testing and evaluation in order to better understand and mitigate current and future homeland security threats. The NUSTL pilot deployment programs not only transition homeland security technologies from the developing and testing phases to operational field trials, but also provide a critical scientific interface with NYPD, FDNY, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut state police, and a myriad of other local end-users in the field."
The laboratory directly supports first responders by testing, evaluating and assessing technologies and systems for counterterrorism, preparedness, response and recovery. Some of this work includes the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program. and a Radiological Emergency Management System.