GOI FINDS NEUTRON SOURCE IN MUMBAI CONTAINER

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 008537 SIPDIS PASS TO NRC, DOE U/S AOKI E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015 TAGS: ENRG ETRD KNNP PREL IN IAEA SUBJECT: GOI FINDS NEUTRON SOURCE IN MUMBAI CONTAINER REF: A. NEW DELHI 8343 ¶B. STATE 195417 ¶C. STATE 193535 Classified By: DCM Bob Blake for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) MEA Director (Americas) gave PolCouns a note on October 7 detailing further radiation measurements that the GOI's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board carried out on the suspect shipping container following USG requests for additional scrutiny (reftels). According to the note, after negative results from initial scans, an investigation of the contents of the container discovered a 30 milliCurie strength americium-beryllium neutron source emitting 7.2 x 10E4 neutrons/sec. MEA provided no further information on the origin of the source. ¶2. (C) The text of the note follows: On 17th October 2005, gamma scanning of a suspected container was carried out at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust by officials of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. No detectable radiation field was observed. On 19th October 2005, a repeat check of the container was done for gamma and neutron fields. The container was destuffed and its contents were scanned as heaped material. The empty container was also checked from inside. No gamma or neutron field was detected. Taking into account the alarm at the portal monitors in Colombo port, it was felt that a further scanning that was more intrusive in respect of contents of the container was justified. Accordingly, another exercise was undertaken where all items of scrap from the container were spread out on the ground for a thorough check. Similar measures were taken in respect of another container that came to JNPT along with the suspect container. This check, carried out between 31 October and 2 November 2005 located a small cylindrical neutron source of 2 cm length and 1.5 cm diameter. It was emitting a gamma dose rate of 30 uR/h (microRoentgen/hour) and neutron does rate of 0.2 mRem/h at 1 metre distance. The source was confirmed to be an americium-beryllium neutron source of 30 mCi strength with a neutron yield of 7.2 x 10 to the 4th power n/sec ( 10%). The source has been sent for safe disposal. ¶3. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD