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Re: DOE Secretary addresses "Dirty Bombs"
Dear colleagues,
Dirty Bomb, indirectly was subjected of the International Conference on the
Safety of Radiation Sources and the Security of Radioactive Materials Dijon,
France, exactly 4 years ago, 14 - 18 September 1998. In that Conference the
two main objectives were:
The prevention of accidents involving radiation sources, either the
apparatus that generates the ionizing radiation (such as X ray tubes and
particle accelerators) or the radioactive materials themselves, and
The prevention of theft or any other unauthorized use of radioactive
materials and the measures for detecting and responding to the illicit
trafficking of these materials. (this much more connected with the
possibility of dirty bomb)
Besides the IAEA, the following Organizations co-sponsored the Conference:
European Commission (EC) International Criminal Police Organization
(Interpol), World Customs Organization (WCO) –
There were discussed by USA authorities the Interpol activities on illicit
trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials and the main topics on this
subject were:
Measures to prevent breaches in the security of radioactive materials (from
production to disposal);
Concepts of risk prevention applied to a situation where radioactive
materials are out of control;
Detection and identification techniques for smuggled radioactive materials;
Response to detected cases and seized radioactive materials, including safe
transport and storage;
Potential of criminal acts involving radioactive materials;
Importance of the awareness, training, exchange of information and
co-operation between regulatory authorities and customs, police and other
law enforcement agencies.
Now, the Conference suggested by Energy Secretary Abraham Calls for
International Conference to Counter the Threat of “Dirty Bombs", seem to me
be a continuation of the Dijon Conference and I do believe it will be
approved, because at the present moment of increasing terrorist actions, it
is a topic of concern, especially in USA. However not only in USA it is a
question of concern but also in the EU and in all countries with large use
of radioactive materials. Please take a look at the IAEA Article on this
matter:
Inadequate Control of World's Radioactive Sources
Stronger "Cradle-to-Grave" Security Needed, IAEA says
http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/Press/Focus/RadSources/index.shtml
To those interested to obtain the Dijon-IAEA proceedings, please write to
sales.publications@iaea.org
Safety of Radiation Sources and Security of Radioactive Materials,
proceedings of 1998 IAEA international conference in Dijon, France (1999).
Jose Julio Rozental
jrozental@hotmail.com
Madrid, until 02-10-2002
>
>Bill Lipton
>liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
>
>Muckerheide wrote:
>
> > Who are the staff that get the Secretary to make such ignorant
>statements!?
> > And why do the knowledgeable people keep silent? (Sins of omission!?)
> >
> > Regards, Jim
> >
> > on 9/16/02 1:49 PM, Susan L Gawarecki at loc@icx.net wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> >
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>
>
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