GAO: Energy makes limited progress on anti-nuclear smuggling initiative

GAO: Energy makes limited progress on anti-nuclear smuggling initiative A federal watchdog agency said the U.S. Energy Department has made limited progress on its initiative to improve detection of radioactive materials smuggled in cargo containers.
   Energy implemented the Maritime Prioritization Model in 2003. Through this initiative, the department works with certain overseas seaports to deploy radiation detection equipment. Security experts are concerned that terrorists may attempt to smuggle a nuclear-based dirty bomb or its components into the United States.
   So far, Energy has completed work at two ports and signed agreements to initiate work at five other ports.
   The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in its report that it understands the difficulties faced by Energy in working with overseas governments.
   “Gaining the cooperation of foreign governments has been difficult in part because some countries have concerns that screening large volumes of containers will create delays that could inhibit the flow of commerce at their ports,” GAO report said.
   However, the GAO said Energy needs to develop a comprehensive long-term plan to guide the initiative’s efforts more efficiently.
   Through the end of fiscal 2004, Energy had spent about $43 million on its Megaports initiative. Energy plans to install equipment at 20 ports by 2010 at an estimated cost of $337 million.
   At the current pace of rollout, the GAO report said it will be difficult for Energy to stay within the initiative’s current cost estimates. Also, the average cost to implement the initiative in a port is about $15 million, which “may not be accurate” because it’s based on Energy’s work at Russian land borders, airports and seaports.
   The GAO report cited several operational and technical challenges faced by Energy in installing radiation detection equipment at overseas ports. For example, the report said Energy is “devising ways to overcome technical challenges posed by the physical layouts and cargo stacking configurations at some ports.” In addition, the radiation detection equipment has experienced some operational problems from high winds and sea spray at the ports.
   According to the GAO report, Energy agreed with its recommendations and will reevaluate its cost estimate at the end of fiscal 2005.