Jack Rabbit Program

In April, 2010, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborated with the Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) and sponsored a series of 1 & 2 ton atmospheric releases of Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) materials, specifically Chlorine and Ammonia in the Utah desert at Dugway Proving Ground. These tests were conducted in order to determine the Nation's vulnerability to TIH's in transport near sensitive populations and areas.

In both 2015 and 2016, Subject Matter Experts (SME) in hazardous materials emergency response designed and conducted experiments at Dugway during the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) research on catastrophic releases of chlorine named the “Jack Rabbit Program”. Emergency Response SME’s worked collaboratively with project scientists to assure meaningful outcomes during releases of 7 to 20 tons of chlorine. The overall objective for the SME’s was to answer questions for the emergency planning and response community regarding planning for, tactical and operational considerations of, and public protection actions during a catastrophic chlorine release or a release of any other TIH material in any jurisdiction.

In August of 2017 key contributors to the Jack Rabbit (JR) Project, environmental systems researchers, plume modelers, Hazmat SME’s, and atmospheric scientists were invited to Utah Valley University (UVU) to formulate conclusions based on the JR data. The Final Report - The Jack Rabbit II Project’s Impacts on Emergency Responders includes the outcomes that should be used for training and educating the nation’s emergency responders and planners.

In the coming years 2022 – 2025, the UVU Team of SME’s will again be involved in the Jack Rabbit III Program. JR III will focus on planning, protection, and response to large scale releases of Ammonia, similar to the earlier experiments involving Chlorine. We look forward to providing the nation’s emergency preparedness community with important outcomes from the program. 


The Jack Rabbit Program

Utah Valley University
Emergency Services
Email: [email protected]

Jack Rabbit I

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Jack Rabbit II 2015

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REL 2: Vehicle exposure at 100M looking North > 50,000 ppm
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REL 2: Firefighter on top of Engine at 100M > 50 ppm looking East
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REL 2: Vehicle exposure at 100M looking East > 50,000 ppm
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REL 2: Firefighter on top of Engine at 100M > 50 ppm looking North
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REL 3: Vehicle exposure at 100M looking North > 50,000 ppm
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REL 3: Plume behavior between obstructions - looking South view 1
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REL 3: Plume behavior between obstructions - looking South view 2
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REL 3: Plume behavior between obstructions - looking South view 3
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REL 4: Plume behavior against obstructions - looking East
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REL 4: Retrograde creep plume behavior - looking North East at 60M
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REL 5: Lexus engine noise after release at 15M > 200,000 ppm
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REL 5: Lexus engine noise prior to release
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REL 5: Emergency response release overview at 15M > 200,000 ppm
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REL 5: Retrograde creep - firefighter exposure at 100M 94 ppm at nose level
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REL 5: Emergency response engine at 15M > 200,000 ppm
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REL 5: Emergency response vehicle at 15M > 200,000 ppm
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REL 5: Witness Board #10 - Liquid Chlorine exposure at 15M
 
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Jack Rabbit II 2016

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TRIAL 6: Car #1 (Sebring) Detection Data
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TRIAL 6: Car #5 (Civic) Detection Data
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TRIAL 6: Firefighter @ 100 M 0 ppm
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TRIAL 6: Aerial View- Plume Behavior 180 Degrees Down
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TRIAL 6: @ 120 M Lookin Toward Firefighter
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TRIAL 7: Ground View @90 Meters Behind Car #3
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TRIAL 7: Ground View @90 Meters Above Car #5
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TRIAL 7: Car #3 (Durango) Detection Data
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TRIAL 7: Car #5 (Civic) Detection Data
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TRIAL 7: Firefighter @ 100 M 0 ppm Retrograde Creep 0 Meters
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TRIAL 7: View From 90 M North @ 4 Meters Elevation
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TRIAL 7: Aerial View- Plume Behavior 135 Degrees Down
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TRIAL 7: View Looking SouthWest @ 80 Meters
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TRIAL 8: View from 90 Meters Behind Car #5 (Civic)
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TRIAL 8: Car #5 (Civic) Detection Data
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve View From 90 M behind Car #5
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve Firefighter @ 100 M 0 ppm Retrograde Creep 10 M
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve Looking South fro 90 M @ 4 Meters Elevation
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve View of Potential RPT Behavior
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve Looking SouthWest @ 80 Meters
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TRIAL 8: Dump Valve Looking South @ 90 Meters
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TRIAL 8: Firefighter @ 100 Meters 0 ppm Retrograde Creep 0 Meters
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TRIAL 8: Looking South from 90 M @ 4 Meters Elevation
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TRIAL 8: Looking SouthWest @ 80 Meters
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TRIAL 8: Looking South @ 90 Meters
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TRIAL 8: Aerial View- Plume Behavior 0 Degrees Up
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TRIAL 8: Firefighter @ 100 M 0.0 ppm Retrograde Creep 0 M Timelapse
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TRIAL 9: Looking SouthWest @ 80 Meters 20 Tons
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TRIAL 9: Car #5 (Civic) Detection Data
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TRIAL 9: Looking South @ 90 Meters
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TRIAL 9: Firefighter @ 100 M 0 ppm Retrograde Creep 30 Meters
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TRIAL 9: Ground View @ 90 Meters Behind Car #5
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TRIAL 9: View Looking South from 90 M @ 4 M Elevation
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TRIAL 9: Aerial View- Plume Behavior 180 Degrees Down 20 Tons
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TRIAL 9: View from 90 Meters Roof of Car #3
 
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Jack Rabbit Analysis and Reports

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Additional Information

Responder Training

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