Posted on 07/15/2006 5:27:46 PM PDT by FairOpinion
The nation's defense against nuclear terrorism took a major step Friday, federal officials said, following the award of contracts worth $1.2 billion to install advanced sensors at U.S. ports of entry to screen for radioactive cargo.
The Department of Homeland Security plans to install 1,400 advanced detection systems at 370 border crossings and ports under the program, which has been in development at federal laboratories for several years.
The sensors, which cost $350,000 to $600,000 each, will allow inspectors to scan rail cars, trucks and shipping containers with greater accuracy and fewer false alarms, said Vayl S. Oxford, director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, part of the Homeland Security Department.
The new sensors will use advanced software to discriminate between different types of radioactive materials at very high sensitivity levels, Oxford said. For example, they would be able to distinguish weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium from common substances that emit radioactivity, such as granite countertops, bananas and even kitty litter.
At the time of the Sept. 11 attacks, none of the cargo entering the nation's ports was screened for radioactive materials. Today, about 80% of incoming containers are screened and the department expects to screen for about 90% by next year, Oxford said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
But screening things at ports of entry is also important. They should have them along the border, so it would detect cargo that terrorists may try to smuggle in.
Another good step.
Yep.
That'sabout 80 Million dollars isnt it? I guess I could have couned the zeroes wrong. I never was much at math. Its a good deal of money for some company.
> They should have them along the border, ...
We have a border?
Gee, I just love it when stuff like this is reported in the press! Not!
Just think … if 9/11 and other Moslem atrocities had not happened in our age, just how rich this country would be. The amount of money spent in protecting us from this insipid and worthless religion is totally unbelievable! The millions and millions of dollars we spend each day to protect ourselves from a group of people whose greatest contribution to the world was a better camel harness is totally out of proportion./rant off
I still don't understand how any nuclear material that isn't a gamma-emitter can be detected inside say, a shipping container. (But I'd like to) Plutonium and Uranium as nuclear fuels are AFAIK potent alpha-emitters, particles easily stopped by steel.
Isn't it way way way too late if we are finding nukes in our ports.
Point defense against this kind of terrorism is entirely the wrong focus.
"Hey Joe, the little red light is blinking...."
"But screening things at ports of entry is also important. They should have them along the border, so it would detect cargo that terrorists may try to smuggle in."
They should set up these sensors five miles out at sea. Put them on bouys.
Alpha particles pick up some electrons and become helium...
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