Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI2344
2006-09-13 04:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
CORRECTED COPY DOE VISIT IDENTIFIES SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO1243 PP RUEHHM DE RUEHHI #2344 2560415 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130415Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3364 INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 1799 RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002344
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, EAP/K, EAP/MLS
STATE PASS TO DOE FOR NNSA KMENDELSOHN, SDICKERSON AND
DTYNAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: ENRG KNNP OTRA PARM VM
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY DOE VISIT IDENTIFIES SECURITY
CONCERNS AT RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE FACILITY NEAR HANOI
REF: A. STATE 135998
B. HANOI 02128
Classified By: DCM JON ALOISI FOR REASONS 1.4 (F/G)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 002344
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, EAP/K, EAP/MLS
STATE PASS TO DOE FOR NNSA KMENDELSOHN, SDICKERSON AND
DTYNAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: ENRG KNNP OTRA PARM VM
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY DOE VISIT IDENTIFIES SECURITY
CONCERNS AT RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE FACILITY NEAR HANOI
REF: A. STATE 135998
B. HANOI 02128
Classified By: DCM JON ALOISI FOR REASONS 1.4 (F/G)
1. (SBU) Keith Young, Physical Security Protection
Specialist from Sandia National Laboratories, working under
contract to the Department of Energy (DOE),conducted a site
assessment of a radioactive waste storage facility
approximately 47 kilometers NW of Hanoi on August 28. Young
visited the site at the invitation of the Vietnam Agency for
Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Control (VARANSAC).
2. (C) Young identified concerns regarding the physical
security protection at the facility in his survey. He noted
that records kept at the facility had no information on the
radioactivity level of the waste. The nature of his visit
did not entail providing recommendations for security
upgrades, though he noted that additional security
precautions at the site would be prudent.
3. (C) Young reports that the storage facility included
numerous radioactive isotopes (including plutonium, cesium,
and cobalt) being secured by little physical protection other
than an unarmed guard. The only electricity at the site
consisted of a fifty foot extension cord running from the
neighboring house. The facility,s inventory included names
and descriptions of items being stored, but the column
designated for radioactivity level was blank. Neither
Young,s guide nor the guard was able to answer questions
about the radioactivity level of the waste being stored
there. Based on the item descriptions, Young commented that
it could range from harmless, very low-level radioactive
waste to dangerous materials from both a security and a
health perspective (particularly for the guard whose job
requires him to stand in proximity to the waste). Given the
potential risk presented by this material, he commented that
stronger security measures should be put in place.
4. (C) Young will provide DOE/Washington with a more detailed
assessment report on his visit. He indicated that the
physical protection system (PPS) at this facility was the
purview of a separate DOE-sponsored program. We anticipate
that the Vietnamese will take the concerns identified by DOE
seriously and will follow up. Embassy will continue to
support DOE efforts in this area.
MARINE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES/STC, EAP/K, EAP/MLS
STATE PASS TO DOE FOR NNSA KMENDELSOHN, SDICKERSON AND
DTYNAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016
TAGS: ENRG KNNP OTRA PARM VM
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY DOE VISIT IDENTIFIES SECURITY
CONCERNS AT RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE FACILITY NEAR HANOI
REF: A. STATE 135998
B. HANOI 02128
Classified By: DCM JON ALOISI FOR REASONS 1.4 (F/G)
1. (SBU) Keith Young, Physical Security Protection
Specialist from Sandia National Laboratories, working under
contract to the Department of Energy (DOE),conducted a site
assessment of a radioactive waste storage facility
approximately 47 kilometers NW of Hanoi on August 28. Young
visited the site at the invitation of the Vietnam Agency for
Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Control (VARANSAC).
2. (C) Young identified concerns regarding the physical
security protection at the facility in his survey. He noted
that records kept at the facility had no information on the
radioactivity level of the waste. The nature of his visit
did not entail providing recommendations for security
upgrades, though he noted that additional security
precautions at the site would be prudent.
3. (C) Young reports that the storage facility included
numerous radioactive isotopes (including plutonium, cesium,
and cobalt) being secured by little physical protection other
than an unarmed guard. The only electricity at the site
consisted of a fifty foot extension cord running from the
neighboring house. The facility,s inventory included names
and descriptions of items being stored, but the column
designated for radioactivity level was blank. Neither
Young,s guide nor the guard was able to answer questions
about the radioactivity level of the waste being stored
there. Based on the item descriptions, Young commented that
it could range from harmless, very low-level radioactive
waste to dangerous materials from both a security and a
health perspective (particularly for the guard whose job
requires him to stand in proximity to the waste). Given the
potential risk presented by this material, he commented that
stronger security measures should be put in place.
4. (C) Young will provide DOE/Washington with a more detailed
assessment report on his visit. He indicated that the
physical protection system (PPS) at this facility was the
purview of a separate DOE-sponsored program. We anticipate
that the Vietnamese will take the concerns identified by DOE
seriously and will follow up. Embassy will continue to
support DOE efforts in this area.
MARINE