CBP's Total Deployment of Radiation Detectors May Exceed 1100 at Land/Sea Ports
At an April 2, 2008 hearing of a House Subcommittee on Homeland Security1, Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern testified on cargo and border security issues, including the Radiation Detection Technology employed at U.S. sea and land border ports of entry.
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CBP Forecasts Almost 500 RPMs at U.S. Seaports by End of FY 2009
The CBP Deputy Commissioner's written statement said that:
"An integral part of CBP's comprehensive strategy to combat nuclear and radiological terrorism is to scan all arriving sea containers with radiation detection equipment prior to release at domestic seaports. Currently, CBP has 398 Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) deployed at priority U.S. seaports, through which approximately 98% of all arriving sea-borne containerized cargo passes.
CBP is forecasting the deployment of 94 additional seaport RPMs by the end of FY 2009.
CBP has requested $27.3 million to hire 238 new CBP Officers to support the deployment and operation of RPMs at U.S. seaport terminals. This staffing would ensure that at new seaport RPM deployment sites (i.e. small seaport terminals), CBP has the appropriate personnel to conduct radiological scanning of arriving sea-borne cargo while permitting the flow of legitimate containers."
More Than 600 RPMs Forecast for Northern Border
The CBP Deputy Commissioner's written statement adds that:
"There are currently 241 RPMs on the northern border, which provides CBP with the capability to scan 91% of truck cargo and 81% of privately owned vehicles (POVs) for illicit radiological/nuclear materials.
The current forecast calls for the deployment of an additional 385 northern border RPMs. This will give CBP the capability to scan approximately 100% of truck cargo and 100% of personal vehicles for illicit radiological/nuclear materials with RPMs."
Southern Border to Have 46 RPMs Added by End of FY 2009
According to the CBP Deputy Commissioner's written statement:
"CBP will also increase the southern border RPM deployments (currently scanning 100% of all truck cargo and 95% of POVs).
By the end of FY2009, CBP plans to deploy 46 additional southern border RPMs - providing CBP with the capability to scan approximately 100% of POVs."
CBP Continues to Move Forward on Next Generation Radiation Detectors
The CBP Deputy Commissioner's written statement also states that:
"CBP, in partnership with the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), is continuing to move forward with the testing and evaluation of the next-generation RPMs, known as Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (ASP). The goal of ASP development is to further improve the efficiency of radiological scanning of cargo containers."
1This subcommittee is under the House Appropriations Committee.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/07/08 and 04/08/08 news, 08040705 and 08040805, for BP summaries on the Global Trade Exchange and 100% scanning (at foreign ports) aspects of the Deputy Commissioner's statement.
See today's issue of ITT, 08041010, for BP summary of a Scientific American article stating that DHS' radiation detectors cannot reliably detect weapons grade uranium.)
See future issues of ITT for BP summary on other aspects of the Deputy Commissioner's statement.
CBP Deputy Commissioner's April 2, 2008 statement available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/congressional_test/border_secuirty_testify.xml.