The Federal training facility in Anniston has temporarily suspended all chemical and biological operations, according to a statement given to students who trained there.
The announcement comes as officials investigate a mistake that led to first-responders training with a lethal rather than a non-lethal version of the toxic compound ricin.
“The ongoing evaluation of the safety culture in place at the facility will ensure it is strong, and that our processes, procedures and management will continue to ensure the safety of the students and employees,” the statement read.
The Center for Domestic Preparedness at McClellan trains firefighters, emergency medical staff and other first responders from local agencies around the country to deal with disasters and attacks involving chemical and biological agents.
Officials with the Anniston center acknowledged in November that the CDP had been using the lethal strain of ricin since 2011.
While civilian first responder students at the Anniston center wore full protective suits and respirator masks during their training, lab workers there who prepared the ricin had no such respirators. Officials with the center have said the workers handled the ricin in a biosafety cabinet, designed to control exposure.
It was unclear how the CDP confused the toxic version of ricin for the less toxic. Officials with the center initially said there was a mixup with the vendor, who USA Today on Thursday reported was Florida-based Toxin Technology. But a manager with the company told The Star the company has never sold the less-deadly version the lab meant to buy.
Alexa Lopez, a spokeswoman with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees the Anniston center, told The Star on Thursday that agency officials requested the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General investigate the matter. Lopez on Saturday shared a notification sent to students that all chemical and biological operations at the center will stop through January.
