WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that its Office of Emergency Operations this week is conducting an International Radiological Assistance Program Training for Emergency Response (I-RAPTER) training for Major Public Events (MPE) in Austria.
The training is being conducted in conjunction with the IAEA’s Offices of Nuclear Security and Incident and Emergency Center and is hosted by the Austrian Government's Federal Ministry of Interior, Federal Security Academy - Civil Protection School who is providing the stadium venue for the hands on practical training. The training class is being attended by 24 people representing 15 countries.
“There is great international demand for this training course due to increased awareness for the need to protect large public gatherings from radiological terrorism,” said Joseph J. Krol, Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations. “The venue in Austria offers NNSA the opportunity to educate and reach out to numerous countries in one week. The training also expands on NNSA’s continued commitment to provide training to the international community while delivering on President Obama’s nuclear security agenda.”
The I-RAPTER is being conducted by a seven person team from DOE/NNSA Sandia National Laboratories, Nevada Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Idaho National Laboratory and the Hanford Site in Richland, Washington.
I-RAPTER course includes hands-on equipment training and demonstrations. The I-RAPTER course enables trainees to use radiation detection equipment to locate hidden radioactive sources during a practical exercise. The goal of the course is to instruct the international first responders to appropriately respond to incidents involving radioactive material.
One of NNSA’s primary missions is to ensure the safety, security and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without the use of underground nuclear testing. Because of this expertise, NNSA also provides nuclear emergency response support to local law enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and emergency responders in other countries.
NNSA currently collaborates with more than 80 foreign governments and 10 international organizations with projects ranging from providing assistance in improving emergency preparedness and response programs, to joint collaborative activities to improve emergency management infrastructure worldwide.
For more information on NNSA’s Office of Emergency Operations, click here [1].
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Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
