Energy uses tech tools to protect radioactive shipments

In response to the war on terrorism, the Energy Department's online tools and communications systems for facilitating global and domestic shipments of radioactive materials have expanded over the past couple of years to protect those shipments from potential threats.

"These tools were originally deployed in order to ensure safe and compliant transportation [of radioactive materials]," Steven Hamp, a program manager with Energy's National Transportation Program (NTP), said during a homeland security conference sponsored by E-Gov.

"Now, there's much more emphasis on cost efficiency and security issues," he added. "These same tools that were originally deployed for one reason are now being expanded to address the more common [security] focus of today."

One component of the Automated Transportation Management System, for example, helps Energy officials select the most responsible trucking firms for transporting radioactive materials. "You don't let just anybody transport this," Hamp said, noting that the application originally was designed as an accident-prevention tool. "We didn't want the carriers to have high accident rates."

But now the program includes background checks on all drivers, company histories and ownership, and other security measures. "There's a variety of criteria now that we've implemented ... and that information is accessible [online] at all of our shipping sites," he said.

He added that the satellite-based Transportation Tracking and Communications (TRANSCOM) system also is playing an increasing role in homeland security. That system enables officials to track, on a "near real-time basis," trucks, rails and barges that are toting radioactive materials and are equipped with global positioning systems, according to Hamp.

"There are about 450 trained users for this system across the country, both federal and state," Hamp said. "It's a very effective tool for knowing where a shipment is at any given time, and if there was an emergency, the communications aspect of this system allows a very quick interface with [state and local] first responders."

Hamp said that system, and several other NTP information and communications networks, increasingly are being used as counterterrorism measures.

Noting that Energy makes only about 4,600, or less than 1 percent, of the nation's 3 million annual shipments of radioactive material, Hamp said those tools also are available for use by other shippers.

"All the tools that we use are declassified," Hamp said, adding that many state agencies also use them. "They are open and available for others to review."