GUIDANCE ON RESPONDING TO RADIATION ALARM AT

UNCLAS STATE 047359 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KCRM KNNP MNUC PARM PINR PREL PTER LH SUBJECT: GUIDANCE ON RESPONDING TO RADIATION ALARM AT LITHUANIAN BORDER WITH KALININGRAD REF: A. A) VILNIUS 000247 ¶B. B) STATE 030541 ¶1. (U) This is an action request for Embassy Vilnius. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) BACKGROUND: Per REF A, on May 5, 2009, Post alerted Washington that a radiation alarm was set off by a cargo train at the border of Lithuania and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad on May 1, 2009. Post received the information via media reports and the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service website. The reporting detailed in REF A stated that Border Guards in Lithuania's southern Lazdijai Frontier District found zirconium ore and sodium triphosphate in a freight train heading to a ceramics factory in Volgograd in southern Russia. Radiation monitoring equipment "revealed a field of 100 micro-roentgen per hour" and the train car with the increased radiation field was denied entry to Lithuania and sent back to Kaliningrad. Albinas Mastauskas, Director of the Lithuanian Radiation Protection Center, informed Post that the cargo contained zirconium ore and sodium triphosphate and was not properly documented by Russian regulatory agencies. ¶3. (SBU) Since the Second Line of Defense agreement with Lithuania is not yet in place, there is no formal requirement at this time for GOL officials to notify the Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense Country Manager for Lithuania. . ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to inform the GOL that Washington does not believe the cargo poses a national security threat but deeply appreciates their vigilance in recognizing and responding to radiation alarms. Washington is grateful for Post's adherence to State's updated guidance on reporting radiation alarms (REF B) and encourages Post to continue following-up with local authorities and to inform Washington if additional information becomes available. ¶5. Washington appreciates Post's assistance. CLINTON