National Urban Security Technology Laboratory
Encyclopedia
National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is a United States government-owned, government-operated laboratory, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Science & Technology Directorate.
The NUSTL is located in the Federal Office Building at 201 Varick Street
in the Hudson Square
neighborhood, Manhattan
, New York.
NUSTL’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.
(1977–2009). In 2009, the name of the lab was changed from the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).
In an interview published in 2011, the Laboratory Director Adam Hutter said the lab is “the last remaining federal facility from the Manhattan Project which is still located in Manhattan.”
A recounting of the lab’s history shows changing missions and sponsors throughout the past 60 years. starting from 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.
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 S&T Under Secretary “testified that EML will remain in the S&T Directorate; that it will continue to operate, supporting both DNDO and other DHS 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.
NUSTL 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.
According to the press release and media coverage of the patent # 7781747 entitled “Very thin dosimeter filters and low profile dosimeter encorporating the same,” dubbed the Citizen’s Dosimeter, this high-tech plastic card would be as convenient and affordable as a subway card, with the capability to measure the amount of radiation on a person or in a given area.
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
Science & Technology Directorate.
The NUSTL is located in the Federal Office Building at 201 Varick Street
Varick Street
Varick Street runs north-south in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Varick Street originates in TriBeCa, at the intersection of Leonard Street and West Broadway. It runs through the western portions of TriBeCa, Hudson Square and the West Village, where it merges with Seventh Avenue South...
in the Hudson Square
Hudson Square
What was Hudson Square is now St. John's Park and is in TriBeCa , not in the Printing District or South Village. This Manhattan neighborhood, less known as West SoHo is generally bounded by West Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, 6th Avenue to the east and the Hudson River to...
neighborhood, Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York.
NUSTL’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.
History
NUSTL is the Laboratory’s third name during its history, following the Health and Safety Laboratory (1953–1977) and the Environmental Measurements LaboratoryEnvironmental Measurements Laboratory
The Environmental Measurements Laboratory is the former name of the current National Urban Security Technology Laboratory , a United States government-owned, government-operated laboratory. NUSTL is part of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security...
(1977–2009). In 2009, the name of the lab was changed from the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).
In an interview published in 2011, the Laboratory Director Adam Hutter said the lab is “the last remaining federal facility from the Manhattan Project which is still located in Manhattan.”
A recounting of the lab’s history shows changing missions and sponsors throughout the past 60 years. starting from 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.
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 S&T Under Secretary “testified that EML will remain in the S&T Directorate; that it will continue to operate, supporting both DNDO and other DHS 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.
Current work
According to 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.”NUSTL 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.
NUSTL receives first patent issued to DHS
The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory is the first organization within the Department of Homeland Security to be awarded a U.S. patent for an invention conceived by its employees.According to the press release and media coverage of the patent # 7781747 entitled “Very thin dosimeter filters and low profile dosimeter encorporating the same,” dubbed the Citizen’s Dosimeter, this high-tech plastic card would be as convenient and affordable as a subway card, with the capability to measure the amount of radiation on a person or in a given area.