Detecting Illicit Nuclear Materials Takes Layered Approach

Of all the types of terrorist attacks that could involve nuclear material, the most likely is a dirty bomb attack, according to Mike Johnson, mission area manager for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). What’s the best approach to preventing this kind of attack?

In an article on Government Technology’s Emergency Management website, Corey McKenna says Johnson made the remarks at the 10th annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness in Chicago.

According to McKenna, a ‘dirty bomb’ is a bomb composed of a source of radiation surrounded by a conventional explosive such as TNT. The DNDO is focused on detecting any illicit nuclear material that comes into the country.

How do we prevent these attacks? Johnson told attendees the approach to preventing such an attack has to be layered, and that the DNDO works on much of its mission abroad, because protecting a city from a nuclear attack, such as a dirty bomb, requires working outside cities’ borders.

Johnson also told the audient that the agency is pretty satisfied with the current state of cargo security at points of entry along the nation’s borders. The DNDO's next focus will be to improve cargo screening of small private planes and yachts coming into the United States through non-points of entry.

To read the full article, click here: http://www.govtech.com/em/articles/427950