Portal Tests Must Justify Costs

(HS Today)

The US Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) should conduct more rigorous testing of its next generation of radiation portal monitors and make better use of simulations in determining their effectiveness, congressional investigators reported Thursday.

The new advanced spectroscopic portal (AS) monitors would replace nuclear detection equipment in use at US ports of entry. DNDO is testing new portals to gain improvements in the detection of nuclear material and to trigger fewer false alarms.

But the cost of the ASPs is significantly higher and the testing requirements set by DNDO do not necessarily justify those costs, said Gene Aloise, director of Natural Resources and Environment at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

DNDO expects to complete ASP testing and certify successful portals in November. Read more here.