PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD
PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD Not sure which was more shocking: Learning that kitty litter, that crunchy comforter of cat and keeper, can be radioactive. Or that the current, expensive detect/protect technology can’t really tell the difference between Fresh Step and a nuclear device secreted in a shipping container. Meee-yow!
Before you panic, on either count, some good news. Preceded by some bad news. Followed by more bad news.
According to an Associated Press story this week:
Federal investigators say the government's next-generation radiation detectors are only marginally better at detecting hidden nuclear material than monitors already at U.S. ports, but would cost more than twice as much.
Specifically, about $822,000 each, versus roughly $308,000 for machines currently in use. That means initial program cost of $2 billion, which does not include much higher projected operating and maintenance costs. And not all borders would be covered. But before you get your tax-paying tail in a knot, the story continues:
The Department of Homeland Security has said the new machines it is developing can distinguish between kitty litter and dangerous radioactive material and produce fewer false alarms than the current ones. The new ones are also better at detecting lightly shielded material.
Phew. Chuckle factor aside, that means possibly hundreds of fewer false alarms a day, says the GAO. Then, the other paw drops:
But the machines perform at about the same level when detecting radiological and nuclear materials hidden in a lead box or casing, the most likely way a terrorist would try to sneak the materials into this country, the Government Accountability Office said in a report to be released Monday. (Download the full report, Combating Nuclear Smuggling, here.)
So let’s see. Double the money. Better at distinguishing cat litter. No better at detecting more serious, non-feline radioactive matter. Hmm. That’s a tough one. But apparently not for DHS.
The DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office argued for the new machines, known as Advanced Radiation Detection Portal Monitors. The agency’s acting head recently told Congress they’ll “significantly improve our ability to correctly identify and interdict smuggled nuclear material and offer the ability to automatically sort threat materials from naturally occurring radioactive material."
Not so sure, responded Congress. The initial Senate 2010 budget for DHS calls for souping up the current monitors and hand-held radiation detectors. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got to think that the Senate’s plan might be taken more seriously if they actually spelled “department” correctly (see here).
As it stands, DHS agreed to a phased deployment of new equipment to see how it performs, but disagreed with the GAO’s other recommendations.
Is this the best science and technology can do?
Anyhow, fun aside, there are a couple of serious questions here.
1) Is this the best the U.S. and world scientific community can do in this vitally important security and safety matter? Really?
Jerome Corsi, a Harvard Ph.D. and nuclear security expert and author doesn’t think so.
“It’s a sad state of affairs when the most powerful nation in the world cannot detect the difference between trace amounts of radiation being emitted from cat litter and radiation coming from nuclear bombs hidden in crates in container ships in U.S. ports.”
2) What is a reasonable cost multiple to pay for marginally better performance that could make a crucial difference? The GAO notes that DHS standards for improvement are “minimal.” How would this fly in your organization?
3) Are there cheaper, non-technological inspection, low-tech or no-tech procedures and protocols that could reduce spending and improve find rates?
Sorry, this costly new radiation monitoring program doesn’t pass the sniff test.
The scoop on radioactive poop
Now, for those who must know, here’s the poop on radioactive kitty litter, courtesy of Oak Ridge Associated Universities:
Most cat litter is made from clay (e.g., bentonite) that acts as an absorbent. Since clay typically contains elevated levels of naturally-occurring radionuclides, large amounts of cat litter can be measurably radioactive. Shipments of cat litter have been known to trip radiation monitors.
Check the story here. Be warned: The picture is kind of gross.
You may want to paw through a few other sources… including a mention in the book “Naturally Dangerous.”
Finally, it should be noted that not all are convinced of the radioactive clay threat.
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