Industry Perspective On Mobile Source Tracking

The threat of dirty bombs, or radiological dispersal devices (RDDs), is real, and while the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Radiological Security focuses on this threat as a matter of national security, industry is also concerned with and recognizes the safety, security, and operational risks associated with radioactive sources. Radioactive sources are used in radiography as a form of non-destructive testing to inspect welds and metal integrity. Radiography manufacturers produce devices to allow for safe storage and transport of sources while preforming job duties. Three device manufacturers; Industrial Nuclear Co. (INC), Source Production and Equipment Co. (SPEC), and QSA Global, Inc., make up a significant share of devices used by industry. These manufacturers and industry users have partnered with the Office of Radiological Security to design, test, integrate, and deploy the Mobile Source Transit Security (MSTS) system for use with their specific brands of Radiography devices. They have been actively engaged to mitigate the risks associated with mobile sources, the potential threat of these devices falling into the wrong hands, and to assess the potential business value in providing additional security features to their end users. The goal of this paper will be to use industry’s insight and expertise to illuminate their view of the potential threat of loss, theft, or adversary intent to use this type of source in an RDD. The authors’ insights will illustrate their historical and continued support of MSTS and NNSA’s mission to protect against the threat of radiological terrorism.