Emergency Response Training Facility

On January 9, 2023, the Emergency Response Training Facility (ERTF) at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) celebrated its grand opening. This state-funded facility, located in the Roane County portion of Oak Ridge, is the first completed building on the ORETTC campus. Spanning 40,000 square feet, the ERTF offers extensive training space for first responders worldwide, preparing them for high-consequence alarm response scenarios.

On January 11, 2022, the Roane County Industrial Development Board held a Topping Off Ceremony with the team and supporters. Click here to read the full press release. Photos from the event are available on The Roane Alliance's Facebook page.

In July 2019, the State of Tennessee committed $15.1M to fund the state-of-the-art ERTF, located at 3607 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The ERTF is part of a one-of-a kind campus in the US that also includes the federally funded Simulated Nuclear and Radiological Activities Facility, located next door to the ERTF. 

 Security, safety, and emergency response personnel from around the globe visit this state-of-the-art Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) campus in Roane County to train and learn from world-class expertise found at NNSA and Department of Energy sites. Challenging critical thinking and problem-solving through training and demonstration, the ORETTC provides dynamic, advanced emergency management, security, and operations training for high-consequence and critical infrastructure operations and processes for global collaborators. 

 The ERTF, specifically, provides industrial-focused training that includes firefighting and advanced search and rescue. The facility is enhanced with state-of-the-art augmented and virtual reality training platforms to provide trainees with exposure in extremely dangerous industrial emergency response scenarios without the need of associated hazardous materials. The facility also helps develop innovative approaches for emerging technological challenges and risk mitigation for critical infrastructure.

 Working with domestic and international strategic partners, training efforts will center on nuclear proliferation, counter-proliferation, and counter-terrorism activities. Complemented with a suite of equipment for simulated nuclear, radiological, and chemical operations, this facility is enhanced with state-of-the-art augmented and virtual reality training platforms.

 Through both training facilities, the ORETTC provides local, state, national, and international organizations and government agencies access to hands-on expertise in:

• High-consequence operations
• Nuclear safeguards
• Nuclear detection
• Nuclear and radiological security
• Emergency management
• New technology performance testing and demonstration
• Other advanced technical and tactical training areas

 The Roane County ETC Project, LLC (RCEP), a special purpose entity of the Roane County Industrial Development Board (RCIDB), was formed in 2020 to oversee the ERTF project and is a member-managed LLC, with the sole member being the RCIDB. The RCEP works directly with CNS Y-12 and the selected construction and design team made up of Lawler-Wood, Merit Construction and Design Innovation. The federal building is a separate project and not managed by the RCEP or RCIDB.

The expected economic impact of the campus is $40M in annual income and $2M in sales tax revenue each year. 2,000 to 3,000 visitors to the ORETTC campus are expected each year, creating thousands of dollars in hotel and restaurant income and sales tax revenue.