The Office of Global Threat Reduction: Reducing the Global Threat from Radiological Dispersal Devices

The Office of Global Threat Reduction (GTRI) of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is actively working both domestically and abroad to reduce the threat presented by the malevolent use of radiological sources in a radiological dispersal devices (RDDs). The GTRI program has undertaken substantial efforts to identify types and quantities of materials of concern, what are the likely consequences of an RDD event, where these materials are used, how well these materials are protected, and what must be done to help ensure that they are not stolen. These materials are distributed throughout the world. We estimate that there are about 4,000 facilities sources globally possessing radiological sources of sufficient size to present a significant risk to U.S. or foreign strategic interests. In response to this threat, NNSA started an initiative in 2002 to help prevent the theft and illicit use of these materials for terrorist purposes. A multifaceted program is now underway to secure these materials. GTRI has now provided security upgrades at more than 520 vulnerable radiological sites around the world containing more than 7,000,000 curies—enough for approximately 7,000 dirty bombs. The program has also established multilateral and bilateral efforts to broaden the program’s reach. This paper summarizes the threat presented by these materials, the approach the program has adopted to help secure these sources, and the progress to date.