DOE-KISR SEISMOLOGY COOPERATION TO ENHANCE MONITORING

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000139 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/RA, OES AND VCI ENERGY FOR NNSA/NA-24 INTERIOR FOR USGS/MICHAEL FOOSE WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP/ROLF AMMAN FOR ESTH HUB OFFICER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TSPL TPHY PREL SENV ETTC KU SUBJECT: DOE-KISR SEISMOLOGY COOPERATION TO ENHANCE MONITORING ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), affiliated with the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA),expects to finalize an agreement shortly with the GOK-funded Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) to enhance the USG's and GOK's capabilities to monitor seismic activity in the northern Gulf region. LLNL will provide two monitoring systems for KISR sites in northern Kuwait and KISR will provide LLNL with continuous data from these and other monitoring stations. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff received a briefing from an LLNL seismologist February 10 regarding ongoing and planned seismology cooperation between KISR and LLNL. The institutions' collaboration dates back to 1996 and emphasizes confidence building, transparency and nuclear non-proliferation. LLNL's seismology-related activities in the Middle East are funded by DOE/NNSA and seek to ensure that the USG has access to relevant data in the event of earthquakes and suspicious seismic activity, as well as to foster data sharing among allies in the region. Since 2004, LLNL has supported, and participated in, annual meetings of the Gulf Seismic Forum. ¶3. (SBU) LLNL plans additional cooperation with KISR in FY 2009 to deploy modern broadband seismic recording systems at existing sites of the Kuwait National Seismic Network, operated by KISR. The two sites in question are both located in northern Kuwait. These monitoring systems will provide data with enhanced quality over the existing KISR systems and help KISR improve understanding of earthquakes in Kuwait as well as improve understanding of earthquakes and earth structure in the region. The NNSA would benefit from access to continuous broadband seismic data. The proposed arrangement calls for LLNL -- which is owned by the for-profit Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and receives most of its funding from DOE -- to loan the two monitoring systems to KISR for one year; no monies will be exchanged between the two parties. ¶4. (SBU) LLNL's seismology activities in Kuwait are supported by DOE/NNSA/NA-24. JONES