Global Security Newswire

A laboratory at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada last month hosted visitors China, Russia and more than 20 other nations as part of a U.S. effort to establish a shared international capability for dealing with a nuclear or radiological incident, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, June 1).

"We have great concerns about terrorists acquiring a nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb," said Vince McClelland, chief of the international emergency management and cooperation office at the National Nuclear Security Administration. "The intent is to work with as many countries as possible to ensure they have systems and programs in place so that if something happens we can assist each other."

Systems at the facility would be used to gather information on a large-scale radiation incident that could include a nuclear strike, a reactor mishap or the detonation of a "dirty bomb" -- a device that would use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.

The Nellis facility and another site at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. would be able to determine the power of a nuclear explosion, how much radiation had been released and how it was spreading. This would allow the laboratories to provide authorities at all levels of government with crucial information as they responded to the incident and prepared evacuation orders.

The nuclear agency's resources include aircraft fielded at both bases that carry radiation detectors, mobile facilities that could provide samples to the Nellis and Andrews laboratories, communications personnel and specialists in medical treatment of radiation victims who could support local health care workers. Also on hand are experts who could investigate a weapon itself, including the place of origin of the nuclear material.

"We are prepared to respond to nuclear emergencies in a moment's notice 24 hours a day," said NNSA emergency operations chief Joseph Krol. "Our responsibility is to provide responders with critical and timely information."

The nuclear agency hopes that other nations would make use of its equipment and know-how during a nuclear crisis. "When they request help, we know there is a problem," McClelland said (Desmond Butler, Associated Press/Google News, June 8).