THE GLOBAL DEFENDER     

                      BLAST MITIGATION SYSTEM 

Global Defender Demonstration

Omaha, NE

October 30, 2003

Background:  The US Department of Energy invited the Global Defender team to participate in a Radiological Training event.  The event took place near Omaha, NE at a classified range, on October 30, 2003. 

Attendance/ Roles:  The US Department of Energy was represented by their  Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response.  The National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Emergency Operations (NNSA) was present with several scientists to oversee and measure the levels of radioactive exposure and dispersal.  The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was present with several scientists tasked with handling the radioactive materials (Technecium-99).  A representative from the White House Office of Critical Infrastructure Protections was in attendance.  Also in attendance were Bomb Squad personnel from squads located across the Midwest (Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, and several others).  A total of approximately 80 people, including our team, were present for the event.

Environment:    Two test shots were performed.  Both shots took place in a quarry, surrounded on all sides by rock walls approximately 60 feet tall.  The weather was clear, 39 degrees Fahrenheit, winds out of the northwest at 15-20 knots.

Sequence of Events:   Two tests were performed; one with 2 daily doses of Technecium-99 attached to 1 pound of binary explosives detonated with a 9 foot Global Defender Enclosure filled with foam covering the device, the second one with 1 daily dose of Technecium-99 attached to 1 pound of binary explosive detonated uncovered.  The covered shot took place first to ensure that data gathered after the shot was not contaminated by the uncovered shot. 

Results: 

1. Covered Shot:  As soon as the scientists placed the radioactive materials on the explosives, we placed our 9 foot bag 1 foot in front of the device and exited the area.  We filled the bag from our remote location.  The new 9 foot bag performed perfectly, opening and filling completely.  Once full, we retracted  the hose and exited the area.  Upon detonation, the enclosure contained all of the thermal event and blast effects, and then gave way as designed, allowing the foam to exit the bag out to a distance of 15 to 20 feet from the device.  The scientists from the NNSA approached the area immediately after the blast to measure the radioactivity of the area.  Upon entering the blast area, they discovered that the foam had contained ALL of the radioactive material within its bubble structure, and that no radiation had been allowed to leak into the atmosphere.  No readings in excess of normal background levels were present.  One question that remained was how long the foam would hold up and continue to contain the radioactive material.  Readings were continually taken for over an hour after the blast, and the foam was still intact and still containing the material.

2. Uncovered Shot:  The uncovered shot was identical to the first shot; with the exception that only 1 daily dose of Technecium-99 was used, due to the increased contamination probability.  After detonation, the scientists again immediately approached the site to measure radioactivity levels.  As expected, the contaminated area was quite large, and they were not able to approach too close to the site.  Since the wind was blowing 15 to 20 knots, the upwind contaminated area was approximately 50 to 75 feet from the device.  The downwind area, however, was extremely contaminated and blown downwind for a great distance.  Due to the surroundings (60 foot rock walls on the downwind side) it is impossible to determine exactly how far the radioactive material would have been dispersed on the downwind side.  One estimate was close to ½ mile with winds of that speed. 

3. Scientists from the US Department of Energy are preparing an after action report.  Initially, this document will most likely be classified.  Upon release from the Department of Energy, this report will be made available for public access. 

Conclusion:  The Global Defender effectively demonstrated its ability to contain an RDD (Radiation Dispersal Device), both the radioactive agent dispersal, and the bomb blast effects.  This, combined with the previous results, shows that our system is an effective tool for dealing with IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices) as well as CBR (Chemical, Biological, Radiological) devices.    

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