MAINE CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM CERTIFIED
January 15, 2002

The Department of Defense notified Congress today that the Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) from the Maine National Guard is now certified. The team is fully ready to assist civil authorities respond to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident, and possess the requisite skills, training and equipment to be proficient in all mission requirements.

The Maine National Guard team, the 11th WMD-CST, is stationed at Waterville, Maine.

Congress has authorized 32 WMD-CST. The team certified today is part of the 17 teams authorized in the National Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2000. All 10 of the teams authorized in fiscal 1999 have already been certified; seven of the 17 teams authorized in fiscal 2000 are now certified; five more teams authorized in fiscal 2001 are being organized.