Dirty Bomb Vulnerabilities: Fake Companies, Fake Licenses, Real Consequences

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing, “Dirty Bomb Vulnerabilities: Fake Companies, Fake Licenses, Real Consequences,” examining certain vulnerabilities in the government’s procedures for licensing radiological materials. This hearing built upon the findings released at the Subcommittee’s hearing on March 28, 2006, which examined certain flaws in U.S. safeguards against radiological and nuclear attacks. Specifically, the hearing examined the effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s materials licensing policies and procedures, including: (1) the process by which parties obtain NRC materials licenses; and (2) the vulnerability of NRC materials licenses to counterfeiting.