Groundbreaking ceremony held for NCETR

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday for a new explosives training and research facility at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' new National Center for Explosives Training and Research facility is an initiative by the U.S. Justice Department to provide advanced training for ATF personnel and the emergency response community.

Construction of NCETR, which will have explosives ranges, classrooms and laboratories, is expected to be completed by 2010. Officials say the new training facility is part of an effort to improve bombing investigations and advance preventive measures, among other explosive detection and defusing initiatives.

"The creation of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research has been a top priority for ATF," ATF Acting Director Michael Sullivan said in a statement.

"From this comes a stronger, safer, more secure America. This is a proud and an exciting moment for ATF."