U.S. and Mexico Sign Megaports Agreement
The Department of Energy has issued a press release announcing that on April 16, 2007, the U.S. and Mexico signed an agreement to help detect and prevent the smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive material (Megaports Agreement).
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(The DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration, as part of the Megaports program, works around the world with foreign governments to install specialized radiation detection equipment at international seaports. The program's mission is to enhance a country's capabilities to deter, detect and interdict illicit shipments of nuclear and other radioactive materials.)
NNSA Will Collaborate with Mexico to Install Radiation Equipment at Four Mexican Seaports
Under the Megaports Agreement, NNSA will collaborate with Mexican Customs to install radiation detection equipment at four Mexican seaports that account for nearly 90% of container traffic in Mexico.
Megaports Agreement Will Advance Cooperative Efforts under the SPP, Etc.
According to DOE, this agreement will advance cooperative efforts under the 2005 Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). (The SPP is a trilateral initiative between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that focuses on collaboration in trade, import and export controls, immigration and security. Under the partnership, the U.S. committed to providing Mexico with radiation detection equipment to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/25/05 news, 05032520, for BP summary of the SPP.)
DOE adds that the U.S and Mexico have a strong cooperation in nuclear nonproliferation work, including their joint work to prepare for a large, international emergency response exercise to be held in Mexico in 2008. In addition, NNSA works closely with Mexico to increase security at the Mexican Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA) research reactor and to convert the reactor so that it does not run on weapons-usable highly enriched uranium.
Megaports Program is Operational in Eight Countries, Operational Testing Underway in Three Countries, Etc.
DOE states that the Megaports program is currently operational in eight countries, with operational testing underway in three additional countries, and at various stages of implementation and negotiations with approximately 13 other countries.
(See ITT's Online Archives 02/15/07 news, 07021510, for BP summary of Panama signing a declaration of principles with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and DOE's NNSA regarding the implementation of both the Container Security Initiative and the Megaports Initiative. BP summary also includes links to other recent CSI/Megaports declarations of principles.)
DOE press release (dated 04/16/07) available at http://www.energy.gov/news/4946.htm