RRFM 2009 Transactions - European Nuclear Society

The GTRI domestic radiological material removal program is working in cooperation with
Federal, state and local agencies, and private industry to recover and permanently dispose of
excess radiological sources in the United States. A cumulative total of over 20,300 domestic
sources have been recovered. GTRI is committed to remove at least 2,500 excess domestic
radiological sources each year. While this is an impressive milestone, each year over 3,000
new sources are registered as excess creating a backlog of more that 8,000 sources to recover.
2.3 The Protect Program
GTRI’s Protect Program involves both international and domestic material protection. Work is
conducted to ensure material security building by building. Many of the buildings holding
nuclear and radiological materials require a different approach since they are accessible to the
public, such as hospitals, and university facilities. A systematic approach is applied to evaluate
and implement security measures. The GTRI team works with international and domestic
partners to: perform site protection assessments; design the security upgrades; obtain a site
sustainability commitment; install the security upgrades; and conduct table top exercises with
facility staff to ensure an understanding and proficiency with the protection upgrade.
Working with Federal, state and local agencies, GTRI has established a domestic goal of 2,191
high-priority U.S. buildings that require protection. This work has recently begun, and 17 have
already been completed
International nuclear and radiological material protection has identified 1,759 buildings that
require protection. To date, 30% are completed. Acceleration of this effort is particularly
important because upgraded security is necessary until a permanent threat reduction solution
can be implemented
3. Conclusion
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in her confirmation hearing on January 13, 2009,
“……The gravest threat ......is the danger that weapons of mass destruction will fall into the
hands of terrorists. To ensure our future security, we must curb the biological, chemical, or
cyber — while we take the lead in working with others to reduce current nuclear stockpiles and
prevent the development and use of dangerous new weaponry….” iii This urgent warning has
been echoed by many other WMD experts and expert committees. In order to meet President
Obama’s goal to secure nuclear weapons material in four years, the NNSA has developed a
plan to accomplish this goal. Every facet of the GTRI mission will contribute to the success of
this plan. International partners around the world must be involved and will be welcomed in
these important efforts.
4. References
i White House website, www.white.house.gov/agenda/homeland_security/
ii Ibid.
iii Testimony of Senator Hillary Clinton before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, January 13, 2009.
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