DHS Announces Additional Grant Awards for Radiological/Nuclear Detection in the Southeast Transportation Corridor

WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded $3.7 million in funds and non-monetary support today to Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and the District of Columbia as part of the department’s continuing Southeast Transportation Corridor Pilot (SETCP) program. The SETCP program will deploy radiation detection systems at interstate weigh stations throughout the Southeast Corridor to detect and interdict illicit nuclear and radiological materials on the nation’s interstate highways.

“The Southeast Corridor carries some of the largest concentrations of truck traffic throughout the United States,” said Vayl S. Oxford, director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. “Through the deployment of new technology and integrated training, we are able to enhance our overall capabilities in a collaborative effort with our partners at the state and local level.”

The department’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is implementing the pilot program that will develop and demonstrate a regional concept of operations, including alarm resolution protocols, and enhance regional communication infrastructure and collaboration for information exchange. The SETCP program will include training and exercises for state and local participants.

The initial phase of cooperative agreements totaling $3.2 million were awarded on Sept. 27, 2006, to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, State Transport Police, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. This grant award is the final phase of the SETCP program.

DNDO is a jointly staffed, national office established to improve the nation’s capability to detect and report unauthorized attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or transport nuclear or radiological material for use against the nation, and to further enhance this capability over time.