AMS National Reachback Capability New Tools for Helping Emergency Responders

1. DOE/NV/25946--689 AMS National Reachback Capability New Tools for Helping Emergency Responders Piotr Wasiolek and Craig LyonsAerial Measuring System, Remote Sensing Laboratory Las Vegas, NV Presented to 19th NREP Annual Conference Norfolk, Virginia April 20–23, 2009 This work was done by National Security Technologies, LLC, under Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25946 with the U.S. Department of Energy. Vision • Service • Partnership

2. Topics • Aerial Measuring System Credentials • Reachback Background • AMS National Reachback Concept of Operation • AMS Reachback Involvement Scenarios • AMS Reachback Access • MARS Course • Future Vision • Service • Partnership

3. AMSAerial Measuring System Vision • Service • Partnership

4. Aerial Measuring Systems (AMS) AMS provides responsive aerial measurements to detect, analyze, and track radioactive material before and during emergencies. This includes Mission Planning, Acquisition, Post-Analysis, and Reporting. • Established in 1967 • Originally supported the Nuclear Test Program • Expanded Mission • Provides initial data to RAP Teams and FRMAC • Confirm NARAC predictive computer models • Give initial assessment of ground deposition • Search for lost radioactive sources or scattered fragments Vision • Service • Partnership

5. AMS Big Picture NNSA's Aerial Measuring System (AMS) provides specialized airborne radiation detection systems to provide real-time measurements of low levels of air and ground contamination. The AMS team consists of scientists, technicians, pilots, and ground support personnel.  These trained experts are in charge of maintaining a state of readiness to respond to a radiological emergency at any time.  The team is based out of Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. Vision • Service • Partnership

6. On-Call Response Resources • Two 4-person on-call response teams at both RSL-Nellis and RSL-Andrews • 24/7 duty • 2-hour recall, 4-hours wheels up • Three aircraft always on standby • Two at RSL-Andrews • Eastern Region • National Capital Region • One at RSL-Nellis • Western Region • Beech King Air B-200 • Twin-engine turbo prop • IFR (all weather) rated • 260 knots (300 mph) • Range 1,130 nm (1,300 sm) • Max Endurance 5 hrs (without refueling) Vision • Service • Partnership

7. AMS Radiological Mapping Resources • Eight-person crew • Mission Scientist • Data Scientist • Data Technician • Electronic Technician (2) • Helicopter Pilot (2) • Helicopter Mechanic • Bell-412 • Twin-Pac turboshaft engine • IFR (all weather) rated • 120 knots (140 mph) • Range 360 nm (410 sm) • Max Endurance 3 hrs (without refueling) Vision • Service • Partnership

8. AMS Reachback Charter Since September 11, 2001, increasing numbers of local, state, and federal entities are entering into the AMS arena. NNSA and DHS has recognized a need by these entities for an AMS Reachback Center that would provide training and assistance on all aspects of AMS. The Center will assist local, state, and federal agencies in establishing the skills, resources, and training needed for a successful AMS regional operation. Vision • Service • Partnership

9. Chicago Meeting September 2007 Vision • Service • Partnership

10. The Customer Vision • Service • Partnership

11. AMS Reachback Customer’s Expectations • To provide: • Assistance with training on the selected equipment. • Assistance in periodic equipment maintenance. • Training in flight techniques. • Assistance in mission planning. • Assistance in developing radiation safety plan for a mission. • Data analysis and interpretation. Vision • Service • Partnership

12. Existing Reachback Capabilities NNSA's Triage is a non-deployable, secure, on-line capability that provides remote support to emergency responders in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency. Triage has on-call scientists available 24 hours a day to analyze site-specific data and confirm radioisotope identification in the event of a radiological incident.  The data is transmitted through the Triage website or provided over the telephone. In addition, Triage is part of the National Reachback Program coordinated by NNSA and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). The CM Web is a tool used by CMHT in its mission is to assist federal, state, local, and tribal decision makers in collecting and interpreting data in order to provide for public safety and minimize the social and economic impacts of a nuclear/radiological event. Vision • Service • Partnership

13. DHS/NNSA Reachback Concept Vision • Service • Partnership

14. Aerial Asset Anticipated Response Scenarios • Pre-Event Area or Street Surveillance • Source Recovery • Consequence Management response to RDD/IND or nuclear/radiological incident Vision • Service • Partnership

15. AMS Reachback Response • AMS Reachback will only respond on request from regional assets. • AMS Reachback is strictly advisory body (“friendly technical support”). • AMS Reachback utilization by regional assets is strictly voluntary. • After full implementation, AMS Reachback will be available 24/7. Vision • Service • Partnership

16. AMS Reachback Responsefor Pre-Event Area or Street Surveillance and Source Recovery • Creates maps with the mission dependent recommended flight pattern. • Generates GIS shape files if the aerial assets are equipped with aviation steering systems. • Analyzes the data and screens them for radiological anomalies. • Generates a map data product for downloading by regional assets. • Assists in spectral extraction and transmission of extracted spectra to Triage for final analysis. Vision • Service • Partnership

17. AMS Reachback Responsefor Aerial Consequence Management Response to an RDD/IND or Nuclear/Radiological Incident • When requested, initiates ARAC model predictions, downloads them, and create a simplified map product for downloading by the regional assets. • Assists in recommending the mission dependent optimum flight pattern; creates maps. • Analyzes and assess the received data. • Creates a map data product as “breadcrumbs” or contour plots. • Advises in any aspect of aerial radiological emergency response before, during, and after a radiological event. Vision • Service • Partnership

18. Mobile Aerial Radiological Surveillance (MARS) Course • Scope • The scope of the course is to prepare law enforcement officers to: • Set up and operate the commercial • radiation data acquisition system they • own. • Plan and execute aerial surveillance • mission using their aerial assets. Course Length 24 hours (three 8-hour days) (3rd day for source over-flying) AMS and RAP personnel jointly deliver the training Vision • Service • Partnership

19. MARS Topics • The following topics covered during the training: • Radiation Basic (RAP) • Sources of Radiation (RAP) • Basic Radiation Detection Theory (RAP) • Mobile Detection System Set Up and Operation (AMS) • Operational Airborne Radiation Detection (AMS) • Practical Airborne Exercises (AMS&RAP) Vision • Service • Partnership

20. MARS Development Team Vision • Service • Partnership

21. MARS Chicago Classroom Vision • Service • Partnership

22. MARS Chicago Flights Vision • Service • Partnership

23. MARS Chicago Class of 2008 Vision • Service • Partnership

24. MARS New York Class of 2008 Vision • Service • Partnership

25. MARS Graduation in Washington DC Vision • Service • Partnership

26. MARS in Los Angeles Vision • Service • Partnership

27. MARS Training Summary Vision • Service • Partnership

28. AMS Reachback Access • Duty phone • Web page • Uploading collected data for processing • Downloading map products Vision • Service • Partnership

29. Web Page Vision • Service • Partnership

30. State of Georgia, Nov 10, 2008 Jim Hardeman, Environmental Radiation Program Environmental Protection DivisionGeorgia Department of Natural Resources using CM Web submitted aerial data fromGeorgia aerial system to AMS for review. Vision • Service • Partnership

31. Regionalization • Issue: Two Locations Do Not Provide for Timely Response • Solution: Place AMS Assets at Regional RAP Locations • Savannah River / Aiken, South Carolina (Pilot) • Status: • Currently have MOU with CBP to Provide Aviation in support of RAP/AMS Mission • Providing Equipment and Training to RAP-3 • Expected to be Mission Ready 9/30/2009

33. RAP Region 3 Pilot Program Vision • Service • Partnership

34. Regionalization RAP 3 Vision • Service • Partnership

35. Future • Formalize AMS Reachback as NNSA Duty Team • Post the AMS Reachback Web Page • Provide MARS Training to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department • Provide MARS Training to NY Department of Environmental Protection Police • Establish Periodic Data Exchange Exercises with MARS Trained Agencies • Present AMS Reachback at the ALEA Annual Meeting July 2009 • Formalize Reachback interaction with the RAP aerial surveillance duty team Vision • Service • Partnership

36. Conclusion An AMS mission without a final data product to show the customer was no flight at all. AMS Reachback Vision • Service • Partnership