Speakers
Description
This paper will present how Nordion and ORNL have teamed to create a framework for collaboration to address the transportation challenges of today and tomorrow. Nordion and ORNL share a successful history of collaboration on transportation security and have a long-standing agreement to enhance the safety and security of Cobalt-60 (Co60). This shared history of partnership is important for many reasons, including its many contributions to harmonizing regulations, as well as its enhancement of planning efforts to address and counter rapidly advancing technologies that could enable adversarial groups.
It’s widely accepted that high-consequence radioactive materials are most vulnerable to nefarious activities during transport. The global process of transporting nuclear and radioactive materials inherently involves a significant number of entities, from the supplier, carriers, customs, and regulators, to law enforcement organizations and their associated processes and requirements. Therefore, assuring a safe and secure shipment requires a great deal of planning and coordination. Further, as evidenced by recent world events, national disasters, conflicts, and uses of emerging technologies drives the need for more vigorous cooperation between industry and government to navigate the myriad potential challenges faced day in and day out.
Nordion, headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, is the world’s leading supplier and manufacturer of Co60 sealed sources. Annually, Nordion ships significant quantities (and numbers of shipments) of Co60 into and through the United States, as part of its global supply strategy for necessary medical and industrial devices. These materials are essential for the health and well-being of the global population, and disruptions to their distribution pose dire effects. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, is a world leader in transportation and transportation security. ORNL is engaged both domestically and globally to enhance protection of nuclear and radioactive materials, particularly when these materials are in transit.
Together, Nordion and ORNL are working to strengthen the security of shipments across North America that are critical to the support of our health and way of life, while also being mindful of safety and operational impacts.
