GAO: Federal Response to Nuclear, Radiological Threats Could Be Strengthened

October 9, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) physical security measures may not be sufficient for protecting nuclear and radiological response facilities, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The DOE has unique capabilities and assets to prevent and respond to a nuclear or radiological attack in the U.S., according to the report. These include specialized teams to search for, locate and deactivate nuclear or radiological devices and to help manage the consequences of a nuclear or radiological attack.

These capabilities are primarily found at the DOE's two key emergency response facilities - the remote sensing laboratories at Nellis Air Force Base and Andrews Air Force Base.

The DOE's two remote sensing laboratories are protected at the lowest level of physical security allowed by DOE guidance because, according to the DOE, capabilities and assets to prevent and respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies were dispersed across the country and are not concentrated at the laboratories.

However, the GAO found a number of critical capabilities and assets that exist only at the remote sensing laboratories and whose loss would significantly hamper the DOE's ability to prevent and respond to a nuclear or radiological emergency, according to the report.

These capabilities include highly trained teams for minimizing the consequences of a nuclear or radiological attack and the only helicopters and planes that can readily help locate nuclear or radiological devices or measure contamination levels after a radiological attack.

There are significant benefits to conducting aerial background radiation surveys of U.S. cities. Specifically, the surveys can be used to compare changes in radiation levels to:

1. Help detect radiological threats in U.S. cities more quickly.
2. Measure contamination levels after a radiological attack to assist in and reduce the costs of cleanup efforts.

Despite the benefits, only one major city has been surveyed. Neither the DOE nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has mission responsibility for conducting these surveys and there are no plans to conduct additional surveys.

The GAO recommends, among other things, that:

1. The DOE review the physical security measures at its two key emergency response facilities to determine whether additional measures should be taken to protect the facilities.
2. The DOE and the DHS evaluate the costs, benefits and limitations of making greater use of aerial background radiation surveys of U.S. cities.

The DHS agreed and the DOE neither agreed nor disagreed with the GAO's recommendations. The DOE raised concerns about the GAO's finding on security measures.

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).