Canadian Perspectives on Nuclear Forensics Sonia Johnson Radiation

Canadian Perspectives on Nuclear Forensics Sonia Johnson Radiation Protection Bureau Health Canada February 8, 2010

Outline • Overview of Canadian Departments involved in NF • Overview of Funding Body for NF projects • Past projects in NF • Current projects in NF • Future plans/outlook

Canadian Departments involved in NF • There is no one Canadian Federal Department with a mandate for Nuclear Forensics research or analysis • A number of federal scientists have participated in externallyfunded projects in Nuclear Forensics: • Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) • Health Canada (HC) • Royal Military College (RMC) • Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) • Universities

Centre for Security Science (CSS) • CSS is one of nine centres of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) • One of CSS's programs is the CBRNE Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) • Established in 2002 to strengthen Canada's prevention, preparedness and response to CBRNE terrorist attack through science and technology

6 CRTI Clusters • • • Chemistry Cluster Biology Cluster Radiological/Nuclear Cluster • Lead: Dr. Cornett, Director of Radiation Protection Bureau • • Explosives Cluster Forensics Cluster • Lead: Denis Nelson, Royal Canadian Mounted Police • Psychosocial Cluster

Past Projects in NF 1) International Technical Working Group – 2004 • 9 Canadian labs/organizations participated in the analysis of HEU • Canadian results were good; first involvement in such an exercise • Participate annually at ITWG meetings (C. Larsson from DRDC)

Past Projects in NF 2) Development and Delivery of Training Exercises • • Partners: CNSC, DRDC, RCMP Targeted to forensic investigators responsible for the collection of Nuclear Forensics evidence Combination of classroom-based and practical exercises Included procedures for packaging and transport of RN materials to the labs.

Current NF Projects/Initiatives Radiochronometer Reference Materials • • • Canadian Partners: HC, RMC, NRC, ULaval, RCMP US Partners: NBL, ANL, FBI Development of Co/Ni radiochronometer and a Sr/Zr radiochronometer

Current NF Projects/Initiatives ITWG (International Technical Working Group) • • • Analysis of HEU pellets Samples expected to be received in February/March 2010 Analysis to be done by RMC, HC and DRDC

Current NF Projects/Initiatives Reference Material Development • • • Lead by US NIST First inter-agencyworkshop held in August 2009 (HC and DRDC attendance) Purpose: to identify the requirement for new certified reference materials for: – Nuclear safeguards – Forensics – Consequence Management • Next meeting: February 2010

Direct Alpha Analysis of Forensic Samples • Partners: HC, STUK, AWE • Development of sampling techniques and software to deconvolute bad alpha spectra

Current NF Projects/Initiatives • RCMP involvement with FBI and scientists in the US in the Scientific Working Group CBRN – • Work on documents and procedures that can be adopted by laboratories and meet the needs of the courts May develop a Canadian equivalent of the SWGCBRN; first planning meeting to be held in March 2010.

Future Plans for NF in Canada • Continue to apply for external funding (CRTI) for new and innovative R&D projects in NF • Seek out international collaborations for partnering on key areas related to NF • Project proposals need to meet the listed priorities for the CRTI call