United States and European Commission make joint statement on enhancing radioactive source security

WASHINGTON – Leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the European Commission (EC) made a Joint Statement on Enhancing Radioactive Source Security this week at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security.

This Joint Statement highlights the importance of the security of radioactive sources, the need to strengthen security to prevent the use of these materials in acts of terrorism, and builds upon existing U.S. and European Union (EU) programs aimed to strengthen domestic and international partner capacity for the security of radioactive sources in use, storage, and transport. It also supports U.S. National Security Memorandum 19 to counter weapons of mass destruction terrorism and advance nuclear and radioactive material security.

“The impacts of a radiological event can have consequences that transcend borders. This is not a problem that any single country can address alone. Together, with the European Commission, NNSA strives to work collaboratively to strengthen radioactive source security,” said Jeffrey Chamberlin, who leads NNSA’s nonproliferation work.

The Joint Statement aligns with principles set forth in the IAEA’s Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its corresponding Supplementary Guidance on Import and Export of Radioactive Sources and Management of Disused Radioactive Sources, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.

The partnership between the EC and NNSA’s Office of Radiological Security (ORS) under its mission to enhance global security, goes hand-in-hand with the EU’s counter-terrorism agenda and commitment to radiological security, and is valued by the services involved in the activities, mainly the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC).

Hospitals, research laboratories, and industrial facilities that use radioactive materials are all open civilian facilities and can be vulnerable to adversaries seeking to acquire radioactive sources for use in radiological dispersal devices or “dirty bombs.” These facilities depend on local law enforcement to provide effective response in the event of an attempted radiological theft. The Joint Statement also highlights the need to carefully plan response procedures in close coordination and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.

ORS and DG HOME will continue their efforts in co-organizing regional radiological security response exercises after the success of the first event held in Iasi, Romania, last fall. Both organizations rely on the expertise of the JRC and U.S. experts, for providing technical support in designing and implementing the exercises. The next radiological security response exercise will be held in Warsaw with the presence of observers from neighboring countries in December.

ORS’s mission is to enhance global security by preventing radioactive materials from being used in acts of terrorism. ORS works with government, law enforcement, and businesses across the globe to protect radioactive sources used for medical, research, and commercial purposes; removes disused radioactive sources; and reduces the global reliance on radioactive sources through the promotion of non-radioisotopic alternative technologies.