Countering the Rad/Nuc Terrorist Threat—DHS S&T Activities
Mitchell D. Erickson, PhDEnvironmental Measurements LaboratoryU.S. Department of Homeland Security201 Varick Street, New York, NY [email protected]
Briefing to American Association of Port Authorities 29 July 2005
2Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 2
Science and Technology Directorate Mission
Conduct, stimulate and enable research, development, test, evaluation,
and timely transition of homeland security capabilities
to federal, state, and local operational end-users
3Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 3
S&T RDT&E Agenda
Bio-CountermeasuresChemical CountermeasuresRadiological and Nuclear CountermeasuresExplosives CountermeasuresStandardsThreat and Vulnerability, Testing and AssessmentCritical Infrastructure ProtectionConventional Missions
4Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 4
EML History1940’s: Manhattan Project - industrial hygiene, radiation
protection and safety 1950’s: Measure fallout from nuclear weapons tests 1960's: Radon health effects1970's: Three- Mile Island1980's: Chernobyl accident1990’s: DOE environmental cleanup 2003: Homeland Security
Science and TechnologyOffice of Research & Development
5Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 5
. ... .. ..
Nuclear Detection and Prevention Strategy
Provide a layered defense to:SecureDetect in transitProtect targetsSearch and secure
Provide Federal, State and local officials with information, training and equipment for R/N interdiction
6Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 6
The ProblemInterdiction of illicit radiological and nuclear
materials and weapons•Physics
•Time
•Distance
•Shielding
•Source Strength
•Human Factors
•Cargo
7Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 7
Standards
Matrixed supportDetection and information exchange toolsTraining and certification for first respondersBio agent detectionRad/nuc material detectionConsequence assessment and risk analysis
How do I use this
Does this work
How do I test this
Doesthis solvethe right problem
How do Icomparison
shop
Will this work
with my other
devices
NOW NOW AVAILABLE!AVAILABLE!Radiation/ Multi-ToxinDetection
Meter
Functionality Interoperability
Efficiency Sustainability
8Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 8
Radiation Detector StandardsANSI Standards for Radiation Detection
Instrumentation for Homeland Security Applications
ANSI N42.32 (alarming personal detectors)ANSI N42.33 (general hand-held detectors)ANSI N42.34 (isotope identifiers)ANSI N42.35 (portal monitors)
Completed in 18 mo
FREE: http://standards.ieee.org/getN42/index.html
9Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 9
What is the Nuclear threat?Sources
Nuclear weaponsRadiation Dispersion Devices
Entry mechanismsShip AirMotor vehicle Domestic
10Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 10
The NeutronShip Effect
Bombor
Cosmic Rays?
11Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 11
Two Detectors of a Multisphere Neutron Spectrometer
Response Functions of EML High-Energy Multisphere Neutron Spectrometer on the Ground
Neutron Energy (MeV)10-8 10-6 10-4 10-2 100 102 104
0
5
10
15
9876
1
Res
pons
e (C
ount
s cm
2 neu
tron-1
)
13
14
Calculated using MCNPX
detectors 1-9 in Al suitcases,10-14 in Al cylinders
12
11
4
10
2
89
10
11
12
3
5
Maximum Entropy Deconvolution
12Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 12
Neutron Energy (MeV)10-8 10-6 10-4 10-2 100 102 104
0.000
0.001
0.002
Cosmic-Ray Neutron Spectra Measured on a Ship and on Land
E dΦ
/dE
(cm
-2 s
ec-1)
.
Land (prefab. building)Ship (destroyer)
13Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 13
Incident Management Radiological Monitoring NetworkPotential sites to test concept
14Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 14
Incident Management Radiological Monitoring NetworkComprehensive Radiation Sensor (CRS) (Generation II)
View of CRS IIin housing
15Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 15
Incident Management Radiological Monitoring NetworkData Communications System
Network SiteDetector/
Access Node1. Ethernet2. Cellular3. Satellite
ContractorData Center
EML
OEM
Other Authorized
Users
VPN Internet
Connections
16Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 16
Incident Management Radiological Monitoring Network
CRS Gamma Spectrum (typical)
www.eml.doe.gov/homeland/overview.cfm
17Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 17
S&T CounterMeasures Test Beds: MissionEvaluating and assessing the role of threat detection
technologies and strategies to protect critical elements of our Nation’s transportation system:
The technologies and strategies are evaluated in real-world environments in conjunction with operational end-users
Developing and exercising appropriate concepts of operations (ConOps) and response protocols to transition technology to the user community
Integrating lessons learned into recommendations for domestic defense architectures
18Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 18
S&T CounterMeasures Test Beds
Evaluation of Prototypes
Evaluation of commercially-available technologies
Development and evaluation of mobile screening systems
Development and evaluation of concepts of operations
Evaluation of countermeasure systems
19Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 19
NY Project Office for the CMTBLead regional OT&E activities
Provide leadership for test sites
Coordinate and facilitate field activities
Acquire, transfer and archive field test data
Host CMTB information exchange portal
Assist law enforcement during elevated threat conditions and during national special security events
Integrate radiation sensors onto mobile platforms
20Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 20
NaI Detection on a Boat (MIND)
21Erickson Briefing– 29 July 2005July 16, 2003 / 21
DHS/S&T/ORD/EML
We advance and apply the S&T
required for
preventing, protecting against and responding to
radiological and nuclear events
in the service of Homeland and National Security