Under the leadership of the Department of Energy (DOE), NTS prepares emergency response agencies to respond to the possible terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The National Center for Exercise Excellence (NCEE) conducts complex, multi-level tests, training, exercises, and research activities related to radiological and nuclear weapons of mass destruction. In 1998, NTS became a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and an integral part of the State and Local Emergency Responder Training Program. The Consortium is a partnership of several nationally recognized public universities, the Justice Department, and the DOE. The NCEE contributes to the Emergency Responder Training Program through the delivery of radiation/nuclear agents training to emergency responder personnel. NCEE also provides assistance in the design and development of exercises that simulate radiation/nuclear agency incidents. One course offering is the Radiological/Nuclear Responder Operations Course, which is a four-day course providing an overview of WMD for emergency responders and training on basic radiological detection, instrument usage, radiological decontamination, and risk-based response to a WMD terrorist event. Another is the Radiological/Nuclear Technician Course, which is a four-day course providing HazMat Technicians with training on radiation, the current terrorist threat, Federal response resources, combined operations, biological effects of radiological/nuclear materials, crisis management, consequence management, radiological instrumentation, personal protective equipment, and hazard/risk assessment. Another course is WMD Exercise Development (Parts I and II), which assists exercise planners from local communities and other governmental agencies to conduct effective WMD mitigation and consequence management exercises. Training, travel, meals, and lodging are provided at no cost to the State or local organization or responder.