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U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism (2007)

Chapter: F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents

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Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

F
Contents of the Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005: The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report1

CONTENTS

Executive Summary

vii

1

Introduction

1

 

1.1

Background

1

 

 

1.1.1

Understanding the Need to Protect and Secure Radioactive Sources

1

 

 

1.1.2

Understanding the Regulatory Framework for Radioactive Materials

3

 

1.2

Overview of Task Force Activities

7

 

1.3

Stakeholder Interactions

8

 

1.4

Report Layout

8

2

Radiation Source Usage

9

 

2.1

IAEA Code of Conduct Use Categories

9

 

2.2

Panoramic and Underwater Irradiator

11

 

2.3

Self-Shielded Irradiators

12

 

2.4

Gamma-Knives

12

1

Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force. 2006. The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report. Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005. Washington, D.C. Available online at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/congress-docs/correspondence/2006/president-08-15-2006.pdf. Accessed February 23, 2007.

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

 

2.5

Teletherapy

13

 

2.6

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators

13

 

2.7

Radiography

14

 

2.8

Well-Logging

14

 

2.9

Source Manufacture

15

3

Radioactive Source Lists

16

 

3.1

Background

16

 

3.2

Radioactive Source Lists

16

 

 

3.2.1

IAEA Code of Conduct

16

 

 

3.2.2

DOE Radiological Threat Reduction Program

18

 

 

3.2.3

DOE/NRC Radiological Dispersal Devices Report

20

 

 

3.2.4

U.S. Import/Export Controls

21

 

 

3.2.5

National Source Tracking System

21

 

 

3.2.6

NRC Security Orders

22

 

 

3.2.7

NRC Standards for Protection Against Radiation

23

 

 

3.2.8

DOE Occupational Radiation Protection

24

 

 

3.2.9

DOT Transportation Rules

24

 

3.3

Conclusions

26

 

3.4

Summary of Recommendations

27

4

Security and Control of Radioactive Sources

28

 

4.1

Introduction

28

 

4.2

Current Programs for Security and Control of Radioactive Material

29

 

 

4.2.1

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Program

30

 

 

4.2.2

Department of Energy Program

37

 

 

4.2.3

Department of Defense Program

42

 

 

4.2.4

Department of Homeland Security Program

44

 

 

4.2.5

Federal Bureau of Investigations Program

46

 

 

4.2.6

Department of Transportation Program

46

 

4.3

Discussion

46

 

4.4

Conclusions

51

 

4.5

Summary of Recommendations

51

5

Transportation Security of Radioactive Sources

53

 

5.1

Overview of Radioactive Material Transport Safety Program

53

 

 

5.1.1

Overview of the Domestic Transport Safety Program

53

 

 

5.1.2

Overview of the International Transport Safety Program

54

 

5.2

Overview of Federal Radioactive Material Transport Security Programs

54

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

 

 

5.2.1

DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Transport Security Program

54

 

 

5.2.2

DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Transport Security Program

55

 

 

5.2.3

DOT Federal Railroad Administration Transport Security Program

57

 

 

5.2.4

DOT Federal Aviation Administration Transport Security Program

58

 

 

5.2.5

Transportation Security Administration

58

 

 

5.2.6

U.S. Coast Guard Transport Security Program

59

 

 

5.2.7

NRC Transport Security Program

60

 

5.3

Discussion

61

 

5.4

Conclusions

65

 

5.5

Summary of Recommendations

66

6

Background Checks

67

 

6.1

Introduction

67

 

6.2

Types of Background Checks and Investigations

67

 

6.3

Summary of Current Programs

68

 

 

6.3.1

Department of Energy Program

68

 

 

6.3.2

Department of Homeland Security Program

68

 

 

6.3.3

Federal Bureau of Investigation Program

69

 

 

6.3.4

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Program

70

 

6.4

Stakeholder Interactions

70

 

6.5

Discussion

70

 

6.6

Conclusions

74

 

6.7

Summary of Recommendations

75

7

Storage of Radioactive Sources

75

 

7.1

Background

75

 

7.2

Summary of Storage Requirements

75

 

 

7.2.1

NRC Requirements Regarding Storage

75

 

 

7.2.2

DOE Requirements Regarding Storage

77

 

7.3

Descriptions of Storage Conditions

78

 

 

7.3.1

Sterilization (wet, panoramic) Irradiator

78

 

 

7.3.2

Self-Shielded Irradiator

79

 

 

7.3.3

Gamma-Knives

80

 

 

7.3.4

Teletherapy

80

 

 

7.3.5

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators

80

 

 

7.3.6

Radiography

81

 

 

7.3.7

Well-Logging

81

 

 

7.3.8

Manufacturers and Distributors

82

 

 

7.3.9

Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility

82

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

 

 

7.3.10

Off-Site Source Recovery Project

83

 

 

7.3.11

Other DOE Facilities

83

 

 

7.3.12

Storage Time Limits

83

 

7.4

Conclusions

84

 

7.5

Summary of Recommendations

84

8

National System for Recovery of Lost and Stolen Sources

85

 

8.1

Introduction

85

 

8.2

Regulatory Framework

85

 

 

8.2.1

Scope of the Problem—Radioactive Source Loss and Theft

85

 

 

8.2.2

Loss and Theft Notification Requirements

86

 

 

8.2.3

Law Enforcement Investigations—Lost or Stolen Sources Involving Terrorism or Criminal Intent

87

 

 

8.2.4

Illicit Trafficking Interdiction

88

 

 

8.2.5

Orphan Radioactive Materials

88

 

 

8.2.6

Additional Controls for Small Quantities

89

 

8.3

Federal Outreach, Training, and Awareness

89

 

8.4

Programs for Radioactive Material Recovery

90

 

 

8.4.1

Regulatory Roles

90

 

 

8.4.2

Proactive Radioactive Source Recovery

90

 

8.5

Lost and Stolen Sources Response

92

 

 

8.5.1

NRC Emergency Response Protocol to Lost and Stolen Sources

92

 

 

8.5.2

Federal Radiological Response Assets

93

 

8.6

Conclusions

94

 

8.7

Summary of Recommendations

94

9

National System to Provide for the Proper Disposal of Radioactive Sources

95

 

9.1

Introduction

95

 

9.2

Current Disposal System

96

 

 

9.2.1

Laws Governing the Disposal of Sealed Sources

96

 

 

9.2.2

Disposal Requirements for Commercial (NRC- or Agreement State-Licensed) Sealed Sources

101

 

 

9.2.3

Disposal Requirements for DOE Sealed Sources

102

 

 

9.2.4

Relevance of IAEA Categorizations to NRC Disposal Requirements

102

 

 

9.2.5

Available Disposal Options

102

 

 

9.2.6

DOE Initiative to Develop Disposal Capability for GTCC LLRW

106

 

 

9.2.7

Disposal Initiatives for Lower-Activity Sealed Sources

106

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

 

 

9.2.8

Financial Assurance to Ensure Proper Disposal of Disused Sealed Sources for Which Recycling, Reuse, or Return Is Not an Option

106

 

9.3

Discussion

107

 

9.4

Conclusions

111

 

9.5

Summary of Recommendations

111

10

Import and Export Controls for Radioactive Sources

112

 

10.1

Background

112

 

10.2

Summary of Current Programs

113

 

 

10.2.1

NRC Radioactive Source Import/Export Program

113

 

 

10.2.2

DOE Radioactive Source Import/Export Program

115

 

 

10.2.3

Stakeholder Interactions

115

 

10.3

Discussion

116

 

10.4

Conclusions

119

 

10.5

Summary of Recommendations

120

11

National Source Tracking System

121

 

11.1

Background

121

 

 

11.1.1

Summary of the NSTS Program

122

 

 

11.1.2

Additional Stakeholder Interactions

124

 

11.2

Discussion

124

 

11.3

Conclusions

126

 

11.4

Summary of Recommendations

126

12

Alternative Technologies

127

 

12.1

Background

127

 

12.2

Sources and Alternative Technologies

128

 

 

12.2.1

Industrial and Research Irradiators

128

 

 

12.2.2

Industrial Radiography

128

 

 

12.2.3

Medical Uses

130

 

 

12.2.4

Power Sources

131

 

 

12.2.5

Measuring Devices

131

 

12.3

Summary of Current Programs on Alternative Technologies

132

 

 

12.3.1

Department of Energy

132

 

 

12.3.2

Department of Health and Human Services

132

 

 

12.3.3

Department of Homeland Security

133

 

 

12.3.4

Department of State

133

 

 

12.3.5

Environmental Protection Agency

134

 

 

12.3.6

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

135

 

 

12.3.7

National Academy of Sciences Study

136

 

12.4

Discussion

136

 

12.5

Conclusions

141

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

 

12.6

Summary of Recommendations

141

13

Conclusions, Recommendations, and Actions

142

 

13.1

Conclusions

142

 

13.2

Summary of Recommendations and Actions

143

14

Bibliography

147

Appendices

 

 

A

Acronyms and Abbreviations

A-1

 

B

Glossary

B-1

 

C

Task Force Charter

C-1

 

D

Task Force Membership

D-1

 

E

Public Comment

E-1

Tables

1.1

Energy Policy Act Topics

7

2.1

IAEA Category 1-3 Common

10

3.1

Code of Conduct Sources (Annex I of the Code)

17

3.2

IRTR/Code of Conduct Comparison

19

3.3

Code of Conduct High-Risk Radionuclides for Domestic Shipments Comparison

26

4.1

Comparison of Category 2 Threshold and 10 CFR 30.72 Schedule C Values

35

6.1

Summary of Current Background Check Elements

71

8.1

Summary of NRC Regulatory Requirements for Radioactive Material Loss and Theft Reports

86

8.2

Types of Radioactive Sources Recovered and Stored by OSRP

91

9.1

Key U.S. Laws Concerning Sealed Source Disposal

98

9.2-A

U.S. Commercial LLRW Definitions

99

9.2-B

DOE Radioactive Waste Definitions

99

12.1

Comparison of Industrial Radiography with Alternative Technologies

129

12.2

Applications and Numbers of Devices Using NRC-Regulated Radioactive Sources

132

13.1

Regulatory Change Recommendations

143

13.2

Other Recommendations

143

13.3

Actions

144

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

Figures

2.1

Commercial Irradiator

11

2.2

Self-Shielded Irradiator

12

2.3

Gamma-Knife Device

13

2.4

Radiography Camera

14

2.5

Well-Logging Device

14

8.1

Summary of Radioactive Sealed Sources Recovered by OSRP

92

9.1

Summary of Available Disposal Options for Disused Commercial Sealed Sources

97

9.2

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Membership

100

9.3

Location of Commercial LLRW Disposal Facilities, DOE LLRW Disposal Facilities, and DOE Defense Transuranic Waste Disposal Facility

103

Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×

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Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 107
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 108
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 109
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 110
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 111
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 112
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
Page 113
Suggested Citation:"F Report to the President and the U.S. Congress Under Public Law 109-58, The Energy Policy Act of 2005, The Radiation Source Protection and Security Task Force Report, Contents." National Research Council. 2007. U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11801.
×
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The International Atomic Energy Agency reports numerous incidents of illicit trafficking in radioactive materials, including ionizing radiation sources (IRSs) used in medical, agricultural, and industrial applications. This report assesses the threats posed by inadequately protected IRSs in Russia and recommends steps to enhance the effectiveness of DOE's current cooperative program with Russia. These continuing DOE's current program of quick security fixes and developing a comprehensive plan to work with Russian counterparts to reduce overall risk, within the context of a comprehensive Russian program for ensuring adequate life-cycle management of IRSs.

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