DHS Scans 98 Percent of Imports for Radiation

The Department of Homeland Security scans 98 percent of imported cargo for radiation, according to a new report. The report touts the department’s achievements in the five years since the 9/11 Commission reported on U.S. preparedness to face terrorist attacks.

According to the report, Customs and Border Protection operates at 58 ports around the world to screen containers for terrorist risk under the Container Security Initiative. Under the separate Secure Freight Initiative, the agency scans all containers at five ports.

Under the law Congress passed last year to implement all recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, it called for 100 percent scanning of all U.S.-bound cargo by 2012. The report is silent on the department’s progress toward meeting that goal, although last year officials told Congress that they would not meet the deadline.

The SAFE Port Act of 2006 called for a scan-all pilot program at three ports. Customs expanded the pilot to two additional locations.

The 9/11 Commission report made no recommendations on surface cargo security, but strongly recommended improving screening of airline luggage and cargo. DHS reported that the Transportation Security Administration is screening all baggage, and 95 percent of freight shipped aboard passenger aircraft. TSA is on track to reach the 100 percent target by next month, another congressional mandate, DHS said.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said that her department had met security challenges “by building an agency far better equipped to combat terrorism, and we will continue to expand these capabilities as we move forward in our mission to keep America safe and secure.”

The report may be found online at http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/dhs_5_year_progress_for_9_11_commission_report.pdf.

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.