DOE Secretary addresses "Dirty Bombs"

[Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

Energy Secretary Abraham Calls for International Conference to Counter

the Threat of  "Dirty Bombs"

http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/seppr/pr02186_v.htm



VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Speaking before the Forty-Sixth General Conference of

the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today, Energy Secretary

Spencer Abraham called for an international conference to address the

threat posed by the potential misuse of radiological materials to

construct Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs), often referred to as

“dirty bombs.” 



A dirty bomb contains radioactive material, but does not use that

material to produce a nuclear explosion, as is the case with a nuclear

weapon. Dirty bombs are constructed of conventional explosives and

radioactive material and are designed to disperse that radioactive

material. Such weapons are ideal for terrorists because of their

relative simplicity and the widespread availability of suitable

radioactive material in medical isotopes, radiography sources, and power

sources used in remote areas. 



“Although these dirty bombs are not comparable to nuclear weapons in

destructiveness, they are far easier to assemble and employ,” said

Abraham. “While the physical destruction they would cause is comparable

to conventional explosives, the disruption caused by widespread

contamination is far greater. And it is disruption that terrorists

seek.” In addition to the psychological disruption, use of a dirty bomb

could have significant economic consequences. 



Abraham’s call for an international conference builds on several earlier

U.S. initiatives, some taken jointly with the Russian Federation and the

IAEA. In May 2002, Secretary Abraham and his Russian counterpart,

Minister of Atomic Energy Aleksandr Rumyantsev, agreed to work

cooperatively to secure radioactive sources in Russia. Under this

agreement the United States has worked with Russia to identify the

specific sources of greatest concern, has committed $1 million for

security upgrades at the largest radiological repository in Russia,

reached agreement on upgrades at several other high priority sites, and

began discussion on material consolidation. 



Building on this agreement, in June 2002, the United States, Russia, and

the IAEA established a tripartite working group on “Securing and

Managing Radioactive Sources.” This working group will “develop a

coordinated and proactive strategy to locate, recover, secure and

recycle orphan sources throughout the Former Soviet Union.” It

represents the first concerted international response to the threat

posed by vulnerable radioactive sources in the non-Russian states of the

Former Soviet Union. Under this initiative contracts were signed in

August with Georgia for upgrading security for at-risk sources. In

parallel with these foreign efforts, the U.S. Department of Energy and

Nuclear Regulatory Commission are examining areas in which Federal

resources should be directed to improve protection against radiological

dispersal devices.  



Plans found in Afghan bunkers revealed in detail the interest of al

Qaeda in radiological dispersal devices (RDDs, or “dirty bombs”). The

discovery of these plans demonstrates the importance of incorporating

radiological dispersal devices into the world’s nonproliferation and

counterterrorism strategy. 



Under Abraham’s proposal, the United States would work closely with the

IAEA to make the proposed conference a reality. As Abraham has noted

elsewhere, “Safeguarding weapons usable material should always be the

highest priority of the IAEA. But the organization also needs to seek

ways to formally expand its scope to deal with dangers posed by lower

grade nuclear materials. The international community must do more, and

the IAEA is the best and most appropriate vehicle for marshalling our

collective resources.” 



The IAEA has the technical expertise to help states respond

appropriately to this problem. The conference the United States proposes

would help states understand the need to draw on that expertise to

develop appropriate national standards for accounting for and tracking

radiological materials. 



Media Contact:   

Jeanne Lopatto, 202/586-4940 

Corry Schiermeyer, 202/586-5806 



Release No. PR-02-186 

Release Date: September 16, 2002 



-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

102 Robertsville Road, Suite B, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Toll free 888-770-3073 ~ www.local-oversight.org

.....................................................

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