A significant number were also exported to other states that had close ties to Moscow. Of special concern are the thousands of high-activity IRSs in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Categories 1, 2, and 3 that were produced during the Soviet era and distributed throughout the Soviet Union. Moreover, Russia has long been one of the world’s largest exporters of both radionuclides and IRSs. The number of IRSs has been reported by IBRAE to be more than 500,000, but experts from this institute and other organizations readily acknowledge that the number is probably much greater and could be as high as 1 million or more. OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTORY AND SECURITY OF IRSSĪs noted above, Russia possesses a very large number of IRSs, dating from production during Soviet times and continuing to today with production in Russia. Unfortunately, the committee is unaware of readily available information on many of these activities. Thousands of enterprises, institutes, storage sites, and disposal facilities have IRSs in their possession. Dozens of federal and local government entities are involved in controlling IRSs. However, hundreds of thousands of IRSs are in use, in storage, or simply lost within the vast territory of the country. In addition, the committee obtained first-hand information during its consultations and site visits to Russia in 2005. Department of Energy (DOE) to help obtain a more accurate inventory and to assess the general status of the security of IRSs in Russia. This contract extended previous efforts by IBRAE, which had been working for several years with the U.S. To better appreciate the inventory of IRSs currently located in Russia, the committee entered into a contract with the Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBRAE) to prepare a report on the distribution of IRSs within the country and to analyze a number of aspects of the physical protection, control, and accounting of these IRSs. interest to cooperate with Russia to counter this threat and other aspects of radiological terrorism that could have roots in Russia. After reviewing the effectiveness of current procedures to protect IRSs, particular attention is directed to (1) why inadequately protected IRSs pose a threat to the United States and U.S assets abroad, and (2) why it is in the U.S.
This chapter addresses the threats posed by inadequately protected ionizing radiation sources (IRSs) in Russia. Security of Ionizing Radiation Sources in Russia
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