U.S., Russian Teams Work Toward Global Threat Reduction

Before President Obama proposed his plan to decrease the dangers of nuclear terrorism and globally secure at-risk nuclear materials, the Remote Sensing Laboratory personnel already had several decades of experience detecting and handling nuclear materials and sealed sources. They had also teamed with Russian scientists more than 10 years ago to help reduce lethal levels of uranium for productive use stateside (see “HEU Transparency Program in Russia” sidebar).

Millions of radioactive sealed sources are used around the world for legitimate and beneficial applications. Some of these applications include cancer treatment, remote electricity generation, food and blood sterilization, and scientific research. However, many of these sources are poorly guarded or have become abandoned, thus making them attractive targets for theft or sabotage. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, radiological materials have been sought by the al-Qaeda terrorist network to use in a radiological dispersal device, or “dirty bomb.”

To counter this threat, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) in 2004. GTRI works to convert research reactors from the use of highly enriched uranium, or HEU, to low-enriched uranium, or LEU. This removes and disposes excess nuclear and radiological materials, and protects high priority nuclear and radiological materials from theft and sabotage. Of the 130 countries in which GTRI operates, the Russian Federation remains a top priority because of the country’s vast quantities of high-risk radiological materials.

Read full story >