Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Efforts to Deploy Radiation Detection Equipment in the United States and in Other Countries

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-06-21 monographic deposited born digital 15 p. GA 1.13:GAO-05-840T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T P0b002ee180395620 f:d05840t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T GAO-05-840T Border control Border security Counterterrorism Foreign governments Homeland security Interagency relations Nuclear warfare Nuclear weapons Radiation monitoring Smuggling Strategic planning Terrorism Terrorists Crime prevention Nuclear materials Radiation detection DOE Megaports Initiative DOE Second Line of Defense Program Soviet Union Testimony A27179 Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Efforts to Deploy Radiation Detection Equipment in the United States and in Other Countries According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, between 1993 and 2004, there were 650 confirmed cases of illicit trafficking in nuclear and radiological materials worldwide. A significant number of the cases involved material that could be used to produce either a nuclear weapon or a device that uses conventional explosives with radioactive material (known as a "dirty bomb"). Over the past decade, the United States has become increasingly concerned about the danger that unsecured weapons-usable nuclear material could fall into the hands of terrorists or countries of concern. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, there is heightened concern that terrorists may try to smuggle nuclear materials or a nuclear weapon into the United States. This testimony summarizes the results of our previous reports on various U.S. efforts to combat nuclear smuggling both in the United States and abroad. Specifically, this testimony discusses (1) the different U.S. federal agencies tasked with installing radiation detection equipment both domestically and in other countries, (2) problems with coordination among these agencies and programs, and (3) the effectiveness of radiation detection equipment deployed in the United States and other countries. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T.pdf GAO-05-840T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-840T Testimony GAO-05-840T; Combating Nuclear Smuggling: Efforts to Deploy Radiation Detection Equipment in the United States and in Other Countries; Border control Border security Counterterrorism Foreign governments Homeland security Interagency relations Nuclear warfare Nuclear weapons Radiation monitoring Smuggling Strategic planning Terrorism Terrorists Crime prevention Nuclear materials Radiation detection DOE Megaports Initiative DOE Second Line of Defense Program Soviet Union