US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI8537

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 008537 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO NRC, DOE U/S AOKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2015 
TAGS: ENRG, ETRD, KNNP, PREL, IN, IAEA, Energy 
SUBJECT: GOI FINDS NEUTRON SOURCE IN MUMBAI CONTAINER 
 
REF: A. NEW DELHI 8343 
     B. STATE 195417 
     C. STATE 193535 
 
Classified By: DCM Bob Blake for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) MEA Director (Americas) gave PolCouns a note on 
October 7 detailing further radiation measurements that the 
GOI's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board carried out on the 
suspect shipping container following USG requests for 
additional scrutiny (reftels).  According to the note, after 
negative results from initial scans, an investigation of the 
contents of the container discovered a 30 milliCurie strength 
americium-beryllium neutron source emitting 7.2 x 10E4 
neutrons/sec.  MEA provided no further information on the 
origin of the source. 
 
2.  (C)  The text of the note follows: 
 
On 17th October 2005, gamma scanning of a suspected container 
was carried out at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust by 
officials of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.  No 
detectable radiation field was observed. 
 
On 19th October 2005, a repeat check of the container was 
done for gamma and neutron fields.  The container was 
destuffed and its contents were scanned as heaped material. 
The empty container was also checked from inside.  No gamma 
or neutron field was detected. 
 
Taking into account the alarm at the portal monitors in 
Colombo port, it was felt that a further scanning that was 
more intrusive in respect of contents of the container was 
justified.  Accordingly, another exercise was undertaken 
where all items of scrap from the container were spread out 
on the ground for a thorough check.  Similar measures were 
taken in respect of another container that came to JNPT along 
with the suspect container. 
 
This check, carried out between 31 October and 2 November 
2005 located a small cylindrical neutron source of 2 cm 
length and 1.5 cm diameter.  It was emitting a gamma dose 
rate of 30 uR/h (microRoentgen/hour) and neutron does rate of 
0.2 mRem/h at 1 metre distance.  The source was confirmed to 
be an americium-beryllium neutron source of 30 mCi strength 
with a neutron yield of 7.2 x 10 to the 4th power n/sec 
( 10%).  The source has been sent for safe disposal. 
 
3.  (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: 
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) 
MULFORD