Nuclear Emergency Management Cooperation with Mexico CNSNS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MEXICO 000362 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/WMDT: LOWE/LEWIS/CURRY STATE FOR ISN/NESS: BURKART/FLADEBOE/KENAGY MISSION UNVIE VIENNA FOR: DOE THOMAS/NRC ASTWOOD DOE FOR NNSA/ NA-1: D???AGOSTINO/BARKER/AOKI/ GLASER DOE FOR NNSA/NA-40: KROL/PAVETTO/WILBER/BOWMAN DOE FOR NNSA/ NA-46: MCCLELLAND/HEINRICH/ BUNTMAN/ HOLLERAN RIVERA/ ZAGAYTOVA DOE PASS TO: NNSA/NA???20: BAKER/BLACK/LOONEY/ BIENIAWSKI/SHEELY/ROBINSON/ WHITNEY/HUIZENGA/GERRARD/ MUSTIN/MELAMED/CLARK DOE PASS TO: CN: BOTELER/LAKIN STATE PASS TO NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (DOANE) STATE PASS TO DHS/DNDO (WHITROCK) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ECON TRGY KNNP IAEA ASEC MNUC PARM MX SUBJECT: Nuclear Emergency Management Cooperation with Mexico CNSNS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) U.S Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of International Emergency Management and Cooperation (IEMC) met with Government of Mexico (GOM) National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS) for continued collaboration regarding enhancement and strengthening of the CNSNS emergency management program. IEMC provided training on enhanced radiation detection equipment; demonstrated DOE/NNSA nuclear/radiological detection equipment; discussed nuclear/radiological assistance that can be provided to CNSNS in preparation for the 2011 Pan American Games; offered train-the-trainer training and assistance for GOM first responders, Customs, Border and Port personnel for detection, handling and control of radiological material; offered radiation medical training for doctors, nurses, hospital staff and EMS; and offered assistance in enhancing CNSNS's emergency operation center. CNSNS was receptive and appreciative of ongoing collaboration and planned activities to strengthen GOM nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness and response program. BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Under the trilateral (U.S. - Mexico - Canada) Security Partnership and Prosperity (SPP) Agreement, IEMC has been collaborating with CNSNS on nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness and response since 2007. Collaboration to date has included exchange of nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness and response information and data, invitations to observe DOE/NNSA exercises, and assistance with the IAEA-supported, GOM-hosted CONVEX exercise at the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in 2008. The CONVEX exercise revealed that the GOM has plans, procedures and programs for preparedness and response to a nuclear power plant incident; however, the nuclear/radiological infrastructure necessary for an effective GOM response is old and unreliable. Additionally, GOM and CNSNS has minimal infrastructure to respond to incidents other than those involving the nuclear power plant. CNSNS has since been designated the lead GOM organization for the technical preparedness and response to any nuclear or radiological incident within Mexico. IEMC COLLABORATION WITH CNSNS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) CNSNS requested IEMC assistance in enhancing and strengthening their technical capabilities and infrastructure necessary to ensure an effective response to any nuclear/ radiological incident. CNSNS specifically asked for information and data on detection equipment to locate, analyze and monitor nuclear/radiological incidents, including Major Public Event management that will required for the Pan America Games scheduled in Mexico in 2011. CNSNS also requested assistance in developing a train-the-trainer program for first responders and radiation medical response and assistance in enhancing the infrastructure necessary for a response to any nuclear/radiological incident. ¶4. (SBU) In support of CNSNS' request, IEMC has provided CNSNS (the MEXICO 00000362 002 OF 003 IAEA-designated competent Authority in Mexico) access to the DOE/NNSA Office of Emergency Operation (OEC) radiological TRIAGE system for spectral analysis, the International Exchange Program (IXP) for atmospheric plume modeling, and radiation medical reach-back capabilities. Additionally, two Spectral Advanced Radiological Computer System (SPARCS) units were provided to CNSNS to enable them to conduct in-depth detection and analysis of nuclear/radiological material including a search capability. SPARCS training was provided to 30 CNSNS personnel. Senior GOM representatives were present during the initial briefing and demonstration of the SPARCS equipment. The senior representatives were CNSNS President, Dr. Juan Eibenschutz and Ministry of Energy representatives Benjamin Contreras, Undersecretary, Luz Aurora Ortiz, General Director, and Ana Christina Sanchez, Coordinator. Both Dr. Eibenschutz and Mr. Contreras expressed their appreciation to the U.S. Government and DOE/NNSA for the continued collaboration and support. ¶5. (SBU) Briefings on OEO's International Radiological Assistance Program Training for Emergency Response (I-RAPTER),International Radiation Medical Emergency (I-MED) and Major Public Event (MPE) training programs were provided and detailed discussion regarding each program followed. CNSNS asked for assistance in developing a train-the-trainer program for CNSNS to provide to appropriate GOM responders. Additionally, CNSNS asked for more detailed discussion regarding MPE assistance in preparation of the Pan Am Games and asked if DOE/NNSA would be amenable to meeting with SCISEM, the GOM organization the has the overall lead for the Pan Am Games to explain how OEO sets up and monitors for nuclear/radiological material for MPEs in the U.S. ¶6. (SBU) Briefings and discussion regarding Emergency Operations Center (EOC) enhancements including Graphic Information System (GIS) and network infrastructure involved ten CNSNS personnel. Discussion focused on providing assistance to CNSNS in enhancing their EOC with voice, video and data systems with network capabilities to the nuclear power plant, other key GOM Ministries, the IAEA, and the U.S. IEMC advised that assistance, including connectivity to the unclassified OEO Emergency Communications Network (ENC) could be provided. CONCLUSION -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The collaboration and interaction with CNSNS were very positive and resulted in concrete actions. CNSNS, the lead GOM nuclear/radiological Technical Emergency Response organization, is looking to strengthen their program and has asked DOE/NNSA for assistance to ensure GOM nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness and response programs are compatible. CNSNS intends to use the I-RAPTER train-the-trainer program to develop a GOM Concept of Operations for ensuring appropriate detection, reporting, analysis and adjudication of any nuclear/radiological material detected by GOM authorities. ¶8. (SBU) Dr. Eibenschutz and Under Secretary Contreras were very appreciative of the assistance and support and for the SPARCS units. Dr. Eibenschutz stated that the collaboration has produced positive results that will improve GOM and CNSNS nuclear emergency management program. MEXICO 00000362 003 OF 003 NEXT STEPS -------------- ¶9. (SBU) CNSNS and IEMC have agreed to the following actions: *IEMC will provide CNSNS with I-RAPTER and I-MED briefing material to CNSNS by February 12, 2012. *CNSNS will incorporate GOM requirements into the material and provide translation. *IEMC will assist CNSNS in developing a train-the-trainer program and concept of operations for ensuring detection, reporting, and analysis that is applicable to all response actions including major public events such as the Pan Am Games. *CNSNS will provide IEMC with their concept for enhancing the CNSNS Emergency Operation Center and network infrastructure by February 26, 2010. *IEMC will review the concept and ensure appropriate system support and integration. *OEO/IEMC will coordinate with CNSNS to brief SCISEM on OEO procedures for radiological management of an MPE. *IEMC will invite GOM officials as identified by CNSNS to an International Search and Consequence Management Workshop the week of May 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. *Longer term actions discussed include conduct of a joint CNSNS-DOE/NNSA nuclear/radiological emergency response exercise. ¶10. (U) IEMC personnel who participated in the meeting and training were: Vincent McClelland, IEMC Director; Ann Heinrich, IEMC Deputy Director; Steve Buntman, IEMC Project Manager; Mike Hornish, DOE/Nevada/Remote Sensing Lab (RSL); Henry Adams, DOE/Nevada/RSL; Kevin Marah, DOE/Nevada/RSL; Ben Sher, DOE/Nevada/RSL; Mark Breitinger, DOE/ORISE; and Rick Christensen DOE/IEMC. ¶11. (U) This cable was transmitted on behalf of the Department of Energy and does not constitute a Mission Mexico product. PASCUAL