Title 6 — Domestic Security

Part B · Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port

§ 921. Domestic radiation detection and imaging

Statutory text

Scanning containers

Subject to section 1318 of title 19, not later than December 31, 2007, all containers entering the United States through the 22 ports through which the greatest volume of containers enter the United States by vessel shall be scanned for radiation. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall deploy next generation radiation detection technology.

Strategy

The Secretary shall develop a strategy for the deployment of radiation detection capabilities that includes—

a risk-based prioritization of ports of entry at which radiation detection equipment will be deployed;

a proposed timeline of when radiation detection equipment will be deployed at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1);

the type of equipment to be used at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1), including the joint deployment and utilization of radiation detection equipment and nonintrusive imaging equipment;

standard operating procedures for examining containers with such equipment, including sensor alarming, networking, and communications and response protocols;

operator training plans;

an evaluation of the environmental health and safety impacts of nonintrusive imaging technology and a radiation risk reduction plan, in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that seeks to minimize radiation exposure of workers and the public to levels as low as reasonably achievable;

the policy of the Department for using nonintrusive imaging equipment in tandem with radiation detection equipment; and

a classified annex that—

details plans for covert testing; and

outlines the risk-based prioritization of ports of entry identified under paragraph (1).

Standards

The Secretary, acting through the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection 1 and in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall publish technical capability standards and recommended standard operating procedures for the use of nonintrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment in the United States. Such standards and procedures—

should take into account relevant standards and procedures utilized by other Federal departments or agencies as well as those developed by international bodies; and

shall not be designed so as to endorse specific companies or create sovereignty conflicts with participating countries.

Implementation

Not later than 3 years after October 13, 2006, the Secretary shall fully implement the strategy developed under subsection (b).

Expansion to other United States ports of entry

In general

As soon as practicable after—

implementation of the program for the examination of containers for radiation at ports of entry described in subsection (a); and

submission of the strategy developed under subsection (b),

but not later than December 31, 2008, the Secretary shall expand the strategy developed under subsection (b), in a manner consistent with the requirements of subsection (b), to provide for the deployment of radiation detection capabilities at all other United States ports of entry not covered by the strategy developed under subsection (b).

Risk assessment

In expanding the strategy under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify and assess the risks to those other ports of entry in order to determine what equipment and practices will best mitigate the risks.

Intermodal Rail Radiation Detection Test Center

Establishment

In accordance with subsection (b), and in order to comply with this section, the Secretary shall establish an Intermodal Rail Radiation Detection Test Center (referred to in this subsection as the “Test Center”).

Projects

The Secretary shall conduct multiple, concurrent projects at the Test Center to rapidly identify and test concepts specific to the challenges posed by on-dock rail.

Location

The Test Center shall be located within a public port facility at which a majority of the containerized cargo is directly laden from (or unladen to) on-dock, intermodal rail.

Footnotes

1 See Change of Name note below.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

2006
Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006
Pub. L. 109–347 title I § 121 · 120 Stat. 1884
Enacted · 6 U.S.C. § 921
Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 121, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1898
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 121, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1898
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 121. DOMESTIC RADIATION DETECTION AND IMAGING. (a) Scanning Containers.— Deadline. Subject to section 1318 of title 19, United States Code, not later than December 31, 2007, all containers entering the United States through the 22 ports through which the greatest volume of containers enter the United States by vessel shall be scanned for radiation. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall deploy next generation radiation detection technology. (b) Strategy.— The Secretary shall develop a strategy for the deployment of radiation detection capabilities that includes— (1) a risk-based prioritization of ports of entry at which radiation detection equipment will be deployed; (2) a proposed timeline of when radiation detection equipment will be deployed at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1); (3) the type of equipment to be used at each port of entry identified under paragraph (1), including the joint deployment and utilization of radiation detection equipment and nonintrusive imaging equipment; (4) standard operating procedures for examining containers with such equipment, including sensor alarming, networking, and communications and response protocols; (5) operator training plans; (6) an evaluation of the environmental health and safety impacts of nonintrusive imaging technology and a radiation risk reduction plan, in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that seeks to minimize radiation exposure of workers and the public to levels as low as reasonably achievable; (7) the policy of the Department for using nonintrusive imaging equipment in tandem with radiation detection equipment; and (8) a classified annex that— (A) details plans for covert testing; and (B) outlines the risk-based prioritization of ports of entry identified under paragraph (1). (c) Report.— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit the strategy developed under subsection (b) to the appropriate congressional committees. (d) Update.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the submission of the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide a more complete evaluation under subsection (b)(6). (e) Other Weapons of Mass Destruction Threats.— Deadline. Reports. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of, and a strategy for, the development of equipment to detect and prevent shielded nuclear and radiological threat material and chemical, biological, and other weapons of mass destruction from entering the United States. (f) Standards.— Publication. The Secretary, acting through the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection and in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall publish technical capability standards and recommended standard operating procedures for the use of nonintrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment in the United States. Such standards and procedures— (1) should take into account relevant standards and procedures utilized by other Federal departments or agencies as well as those developed by international bodies; and (2) shall not be designed so as to endorse specific companies or create sovereignty conflicts with participating countries. (g) Implementation.— Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall fully implement the strategy developed under subsection (b). (h) Expansion to Other United States Ports of Entry.— (1) In general.— As soon as practicable after— (A) implementation of the program for the examination of containers for radiation at ports of entry described in subsection (a); and (B) Deadline. submission of the strategy developed under subsection (b) (and updating, if any, of that strategy under subsection (c)), but not later than December 31, 2008, the Secretary shall expand the strategy developed under subsection (b), in a manner consistent with the requirements of subsection (b), to provide for the deployment of radiation detection capabilities at all other United States ports of entry not covered by the strategy developed under subsection (b). (2) Risk assessment.— In expanding the strategy under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify and assess the risks to those other ports of entry in order to determine what equipment and practices will best mitigate the risks. (i) Intermodal Rail Radiation Detection Test Center.— (1) Establishment.— In accordance with subsection (b), and in order to comply with this section, the Secretary shall establish an Intermodal Rail Radiation Detection Test Center (referred to in this subsection as the “Test Center”). (2) Projects.— The Secretary shall conduct multiple, concurrent projects at the Test Center to rapidly identify and test concepts specific to the challenges posed by on-dock rail. (3) Location.— The Test Center shall be located within a public port facility at which a majority of the containerized cargo is directly laden from (or unladen to) on-dock, intermodal rail.
2018
Maritime Security Improvement Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–254 § 1816(b)(1) · 132 Stat. 3187
1. Redesignated · 6 U.S.C. § 921(c)(e)
  Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(1), (2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (h) as (c) to (e), respectively
2. Struck · 6 U.S.C. § 921(c)(e)
  Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(1), (2), struck out former subsecs. (c) to (e). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (c) to (e) read as follows:
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(1), (2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (h) as (c) to (e), respectively, and struck out former subsecs. (c) to (e). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (c) to (e) read as follows:
“(c) Report.—Not later than 90 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary shall submit the strategy developed under subsection (b) to the appropriate congressional committees. “(d) Update.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the submission of the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide a more complete evaluation under subsection (b)(6). “(e) Other weapons of mass destruction threats.—Not later than 180 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of, and a strategy for, the development of equipment to detect and prevent shielded nuclear and radiological threat material and chemical, biological, and other weapons of mass destruction from entering the United States.”
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) by striking subsections (c), (d), and (e);
2018
Maritime Security Improvement Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–254 § 1816(b)(3) · 132 Stat. 3187
Struck · 6 U.S.C. § 921(e)(1)(B)
Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(3), struck out “(and updating, if any, of that strategy under subsection (c))” after “under subsection (b)”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(3), struck out “(and updating, if any, of that strategy under subsection (c))” after “under subsection (b)”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(3) in subsection (e)(1)(B), as redesignated, by striking “(and updating, if any, of that strategy under subsection (c))”.
2018
Maritime Security Improvement Act of 2018
Pub. L. 115–254 § 1816(b)(2) · 132 Stat. 3187
Redesignated · 6 U.S.C. § 921(f)(i)
Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (i) as (c) to (f), respectively
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (i) as (c) to (f), respectively.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and

5 of 5 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(1), (2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (h) as (c) to (e), respectively, and struck out former subsecs. (c) to (e). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (c) to (e) read as follows:

“(c) Report.—Not later than 90 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary shall submit the strategy developed under subsection (b) to the appropriate congressional committees.

“(d) Update.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the submission of the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide a more complete evaluation under subsection (b)(6).

“(e) Other weapons of mass destruction threats.—Not later than 180 days after October 13, 2006, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the feasibility of, and a strategy for, the development of equipment to detect and prevent shielded nuclear and radiological threat material and chemical, biological, and other weapons of mass destruction from entering the United States.”

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(3), struck out “(and updating, if any, of that strategy under subsection (c))” after “under subsection (b)”.

Subsecs. (f) to (i). Pub. L. 115–254, § 1816(b)(2), redesignated subsecs. (f) to (i) as (c) to (f), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Reference to the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, see section 2(b)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 115–387, set out as a note under section 591 of this title.

Credits

2006–2018 · 2 acts

2006Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 121, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1898
2018Pub. L. 115–254, div. J, § 1816(b), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3541.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 121, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1898; Pub. L. 115–254, div. J, § 1816(b), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3541.)