————— July – September 2024 —————
Across the TSUSG, it takes engagement from our members to ensure radioactive material is safely transported across North America.
We want to commend each of our priority committees this year that have worked hard, especially our committee chairs: Auggie Ong (PC7: Regulatory), Juan Gonzalez (PC8: Training), Sam Hollifield (PC9: Cyber Security), and Adian Cook (PC10: Artificial Intelligence).
At the annual event, we recognize special performers within TSUSG. This year, we decided to take a different approach and award participating organizations. This year’s award recipients are:
- Golden Piston: South Carolina Law Enforcement Dept (SLED)
- Golden Piston: Bennett
- MVP: Office of Radiological Security (ORS)
- Security through Cooperation: Conference on Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD)
We also recognized an individual with a spot award, given for exceeding expectations during group exercises at the annual event. Congratulations to William “Rusty” Lorenzen from Nuclear Sector Coordination Council for winning the 2024 “Lombardi Trophy” team spirit award.
In other news, Mark Yeager represented the TSUSG at the OAS Annual Meeting in Santa Cruz, CA, August 18-22, 2024.
We welcome the following new members to TSUSG! We are very happy to have each of you on board and look forward to a continued and beneficial partnership, as we strive to enhance the security of radioactive materials in transit, together. Please join us in welcoming:
Simon Martel – Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Jeff Packett – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Matt Klatt – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
David Malone – Jackson State University
Francis LaPierre – EnGarde Technologies Inc.
Joshua Sheppard – Federal Bureau of Investigation
Matthew Chastain – Ripley Country Sherriff Office
John Powell – USDOT/ Federal Railroad Administration
Robert Olszowka – USDOT/ Federal Railroad Administration
Matthew Parker – Hittman Transport
Tyler Hale – Virginia Dept of Health
Daniel McQuaid – Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Courtney Eckstein – Indiana Homeland Security
Ryan Beard – University of Tennessee/ Oak Ridge National
Laboratory
Nathaniel Kishbaugh – New York State Dept of Health
Alison McGriff – Federal Bureau of Investigation
Enrique Araniz – Boyle Transportation
Kaleb Boyd – Secured Transportation Services
Sunil Chirayath – Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Priority Committee 7 (PC-7) – Managing radioactive source transport security regulations
PC 7, which was tasked with reviewing transportation regulations, has held monthly meetings to assess the various federal regulations that govern transportation modes of radioactive material shipments to reduce security risks and to promote safe and secured shipments of Category 1 and Category 2 radioactive materials. Part of that PC 7 work was presented at the annual TSUSG conference in August of this year.
The Transportation Security Unified Stakeholders Group (TSUSG) required PC 7 to write a guidance document that included the following:
- A guide (cross-referenced table) to the identification and implementation of source transport security regulations;
- A frequently-asked-questions with responses document; and
- Addressing regulatory issues or existing problems that could negatively impact source security during transport.
PC 7 will tentatively complete the above guidance document by December of 2024 and submit it for TSUSG review. After the document acceptance, PC 7 will have concluded its assignment.
Priority Committee 8 (PC-8) – Training opportunities within TSUSG
- The Transportation Security Unified Stakeholders Group (TSUSG), Priority Committee (PC) 8 will identify and develop a secure transportation training program that will incorporate tabletop exercises (TTX) and a field training exercise (FTX). The envisioned program will build upon the joint DOE/Office of Radiological Security and the FBI Isotope Crossroads – A Radiological Transportation Security Tabletop Exercise. The subsequent building blocks will consist of role specific tactical style TTXs and a field training exercise (FTX). The initiative will be a collaborative effort with federal, state, local, and national laboratory partners.
- The TSUSG Training Portal will continue to serve as a training repository for stakeholders responsible for the secure transport of radiological material. Efforts to enhance the current platform will be implemented.
- PC8 will identify opportunities and events to promote the TSUSG, the Training Portal, and the survey.
Priority Committee 9 (PC-9) – Cybersecurity issues and mitigation options:
- Phase 1 Cyber Resources are available on TSUSG website: https://tsusg.ornl.gov/cyber-resources/
- Phase 2 of PC9 is exploring tabletop cybersecurity scenarios for radioactive transportation. We’re developing 2 scenarios. The first will be finished by March 2025. The second will be finished by September 2025 to wrap up the PC.
- We are soliciting new members!
Priority Committee 10 (PC-10) – Artificial Intelligence
- Resetting reoccurring monthly meetings and planning for deliverables.
- We are soliciting new members!
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) supports the mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and enforces hundreds of U.S. laws and regulations at the border, including those regarding the transportation of hazardous materials across the U.S. border. In general, border search authority permits “customs officers” to search without a warrant and without any suspicion any person, conveyance, or container that crosses the U.S. border. See, e.g., 19 U.S.C. §§ 482, 1401, 1496, 1499, 1581, 1582.
TSUSG Members: if you have anything of interest you would like to share in this section with the rest of the membership via this quarterly bulletin, please send it to [email protected] for consideration.
Isotope Crossroads – October 29, 2024 – New Haven, Connecticut
Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS) Training – November 5-8, 2024 – Topeka KS
TSUSG FY25 Q1 Tactical Meeting (Teams) – December 3, 2024 (1100 – 1300EST) Topic: Considering UAS for both practical and security measures- Speakers: Brandon Stockwell, Jairus Hines, Nicholas Burchfield, all of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
COHMED Conference – January 27-31, 2025 – Costa Mesa, California
TSUSG FY25 Q2 Tactical Meeting (Teams) – March 4, 2025 (1100 – 1300EST) Topic: Behavior observation programs within a high security environment – Speaker: John Landers, Oak Ridge National Laboratory