December 2008
NNSA's Second Line of Defense Program
The mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Second Line of Defense (SLD) program is to strengthen the capability of foreign governments to deter, detect, and interdict illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials across international borders and through the global maritime shipping system. The goal is to reduce the probability of these materials being fashioned into a weapon of mass destruction or a radiological dispersal device (“dirty bomb”) to be used against the United States or its key allies and international partners.
Under this program, NNSA works collaboratively with foreign partners to equip border crossings, airports and seaports with radiation detection equipment. SLD provides training in the use of the systems for appropriate law enforcement officials and initial system sustainability support as the host government assumes operational responsibility for the equipment.
Two programs fall under SLD: the SLD Core Program and Megaports Initiative. The Core Program installs radiation detection equipment at borders, airports, and strategic feeder ports in Russia, former Soviet Union states, and other key countries. Approximately 450 sites have been identified to receive detection equipment installations under the Core program. The Megaports Initiative provides radiation detection equipment to key international seaports to screen cargo containers for nuclear and other radioactive materials. Approximately 75 ports worldwide are targeted for implementation of the Megaports Initiative.
SLD Core Program
- The SLD Core Program began working cooperatively with the Russian Customs Service in 1998. A total of 117 sites in Russia have been equipped to date.
- The United States and Russia agreed to equip all of Russia’s border crossings with radiation detection equipment for a total of 350 sites by the end of 2011, six years ahead of the previous schedule. Cost for this effort will be split approximately evenly between NNSA and the Federal Customs Service of Russia.
- The Core Program has initiated the installation of radiation detection systems and associated training in Ukraine, Slovakia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Greece, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Approximately 33 sites outside of Russia have received radiation detection systems to date.
- In 2002, the Core Program assumed responsibility for maintaining detection equipment installed between 1992 and 2002, under several U.S. government programs in 23 former Soviet Union and Central European countries. Efforts are underway to upgrade and, where necessary, expand the detection capabilities in several of these countries.
- The Core Program deployed detection equipment in Greece as part of the U.S. government’s commitment to the security of the 2004 Olympic Games.
- The Core program cooperates closely with the components of the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State that each have complementary responsibilities for international border security.
Megaports Initiative
- Steady progress had been made on the Megaports Initiative since its beginning in fiscal year 2003.
- It is currently operational at ports in 12 countries: the Netherlands, Greece, Sri Lanka, Spain, Singapore, Bahamas, the Philippines, Belgium Thailand, Honduras, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.
- Various stages of implementation are underway at ports in 17 other locations, including: Belgium, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Dubai - United Arab Emirates.
- The Megaports Initiative cooperates closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by making technical resources available to complement the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) at international ports.
- Under SFI, all U.S.-bound containers will be scanned at three ports in Pakistan, Honduras and the United Kingdom. These three ports will fulfill the mandate of the 2006 SAFE Ports Act to couple non-intrusive imaging equipment and radiation detection equipment in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of 100 percent scanning of U.S.-bound containers.
- In addition to the SFI pilot projects, the Megaports Initiative and CBP are also working at ports in South Korea, Oman, Hong Kong, and Singapore to demonstrate an integrated scanning of U.S.-bound containers at larger container terminals at high-volume ports in a limited capacity.
- The Megaports Initiative is installing radiation detection equipment at all CSI ports and has worked with CBP to pursue, where feasible, joint agreements with host nations to implement both the Megaports Initiative and CSI.
Media contact(s):
NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371
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