New York City Department of Environmental Protection DERTA - CBRNE 2

Commonly referred to as "The Black Pierce" (the manufacture of the vehicle is Pierce) truck, CBRNE 2 is one of two HAZMAT response trucks used by DEP. The other truck is CBRNE 1.

The Division of Emergency Response and Technical Assessment or simply DERTA is a HAZMAT team staffed and operated by the city's DEP.

DERTA was the city's first HAZMAT team with it's origins dating back to 1978 or 1979 (the FDNY's HAZMAT team did not come into existence until 1983).

DERTA is also the city's most technologically and scientifically advanced HAZMAT team.

The team which numbers about 40 members responds to HAZMAT and CBRNE incidents anywhere in New York City and on special occasions may respond to incidents in neighboring towns on Long Island and Upstate New York that may not have the level of skill and equipment to resolve particularly serious HAZMAT incidents or terrorism/WMD incidents.

One aspect of HAZMAT DERTA does not train in is confined space rescue and operations (FDNY HAZMAT and Rescue conduct that work). However, it has received a high level of training in handling explosives, more so than most other HAZMAT teams (the explosives training mainly relates to emergency response, investigations and assisting the NYPD's bomb squad).

When not responding to emergency incidents, the members of DERTA conduct inspections on chemical facilities in the city and monitor and conduct daily maintenance on the dozens of CBRN sensor detectors located throughout the city.

The members of DERTA are a brainy bunch. All of it's members are certified as hazardous materials specialists.

Standards for this team are very high.

To join DERTA you MUST have a 4 year-degree in Chemistry (from an accredited academic institution) or a degree in some other science or a field that is related (though chemistry is strongly preferred).

Prior experience on an HMRT or military service with CBRN training, while nice, can not satisfy the educational requirement.

The educational requirement is non-negotiable.

Many of the members of DERTA hold degrees in chemistry and engineering. Many are legitimately scientists.

If you meet the requirements and pass an interview, you may be selected for training.

Not too many details on DERTA's training is publicly available but much of the training is believed to take place at the DEP's headquarters in the New York City borough of Queens, which is also where DERTA is based at.

Besides the DEP itself, the NYPD offers training to recruits for the team. The NYPD provides training on crime scene preservation and on legal matters. The U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of Environment Protection also play a very significant role in the training.