CBP to Develop, Implement a Two-Phase Plan for Crane-Mounted Radiation Detection Technology
At an April 2, 2008 hearing of a House Subcommittee on Homeland Security1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern testified on cargo and border security issues, including the development of Crane-Mounted Radiation Detection Technology.
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(The Joint Explanatory Statement from the House-Senate conference committee on the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008 states that technology is being developed for the detection of nuclear or radiological materials that can be attached or integrated onto crane spreaders used to lift and move containerized cargo at sea ports.
To explore the potential of this technology to be implemented rapidly, and to assess its value as a real-time complement to radiation portal monitors, $2 million was to be provided to permit CBP, in cooperation with relevant port authorities, to test competitively this technology in an operational seaport environment. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/08 news, 08020515, for BP summary.)
Two Phase Plan for Crane-Mounted Radiation Technology
According to the CBP Deputy Commissioner's written statement:
"DHS and other Federal Agencies continue to look to enhance and improve existing technologies. One such effort is the development of Crane-Mounted Radiation Detection Technology. CBP, in collaboration with the Department of Energy/Second Line of Defense (SLD) and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), will develop and implement a two phase plan for this technology.
Phase one involved the issuance of a Request for Information (RFI), which solicited vendors to provide crane-mounted radiation detection technology for testing at a seaport facility where the technology can be assessed to determine its ability to detect and identify surrogate sources using different source types and configurations, container sizes, and shielding configurations (to include naturally occurring radioactive materials).
After technological review of the received submissions, testing of the qualifying technology is tentatively planned for mid calendar year 2008 and will last several weeks. Individual test results will be discussed with vendors.
Subsequently, phase two of the plan will occur at a test facility where actual threat materials can be utilized to ascertain the ability of the devices to detect and identify threat materials. This activity is planned for late calendar year 2008, but is largely dependent on the outcome of phase one.
The reliability, ruggedness, and standard operating procedures associated with this technology will not be extensively evaluated during these tests as field validation activity would be the logical course of action after testing with surrogates and actual threat materials, but this requires more time."
1This subcommittee is under the House Appropriations Committee.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/07/08, 04/08/08, 04/10/08, 04/16/08, and 04/17/08 news, 08040705, 08040805, 08041005, 08041605, and 08041710, for BP summaries on the Global Trade Exchange, 100% scanning (at foreign ports), the deployment of radiation detectors, the requirement of bolt seals on all containers in transit to the U.S., and the C-TPAT mutual recognition aspects of the CBP Deputy Commissioner's statement.)
CBP Deputy Commissioner's April 2, 2008 statement available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/congressional_test/border_secuirty_testify.xml.