NNSA, DTRA remove high-risk radioactive source from Guatemala

The United States' National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) have removed a radioactive cobalt-60 source from a facility in Guatemala.

In an article posted on 27 August, the US Department of Energy reported that, in May, a team from NNSA’s Los Alamos National Laboratory worked with a facility in Guatemala to remove part of a disused US-origin medical radiation device – a teletherapy machine – containing cobalt-60 and transport it to secured storage in the United States.

Guatemalan representatives from the National Centre of Radioactive Wastes and the Ministry of Energy and Mines provided expert transportation, logistical and physical security support throughout the removal process.  

"Thanks to our collaboration with NNSA and DTRA in removing high-risk radioactive material from our facility, we were able to eliminate the danger it posed to our community and country," said Mayra Villatoro, head of unit of Technical Laboratories at the Ministry of Energy and Mines. 

Working together, NNSA securely packaged the cobalt-60 component, and DTRA provided secure transportation of the source back to the United States.  

“The successful repatriation of the cobalt-60 source is a product of vital US Government interagency cooperation,” said Robert Bridges, DTRA programme manager of Nuclear Transportation & Disposition. “We are proud to work with NNSA to take meaningful action in their mission to eliminate radiological risk and keep America safe."

"NNSA’s Office of Radiological Security enhances US and global security through a two-pronged approach of eliminating risk by removing high-activity radioactive material and preventing adversaries from acquiring this material through strong industry, law enforcement and government partnerships," the US Department of Energy says.