Evaluation of the Patrol-2015 exercises in Świerk

Commander Jacek Barański, Head of Centre for Contamination Analyses (COAS) and Colonel Bogusław Kot, Chief Expert in the Department of Defence Against Weapons of Mass Destruction in General Command of Polish Armed Forces visited NCBJ on January 11.

COAS was responsible for the nation-wide Patrol-2015 exercises. NCBJ played a significant role in the drill as a nuclear centre. Hypothetical release of radio-active materials in consequence of a terrorist attack on some Institute objects was an element of a scenario played to verify Nationwide Contamination Detection & Alerting System (KSWSiA).

COAS is KSWSiA’s Operating Centre responsible for smooth cooperation of all systems engaged in monitoring, detecting, alerting and triggering interventions in case of any contamination on the Polish territory.

For various threats proper (adequate to the given treat nature and scale) counteractions must be initiated to prevent losses. The prevention actions must also include putting on alert all relevant state security task forces. The nationwide Patrol-2015 exercises in which NCBJ participated contributed to that scope and were a good way to test state security systems.

Our guests brought with them a written expression of gratitude sent by General Command of Polish Armed Forces to all NCBJ employees for their contribution and participation in the Patrol -2015 exercises; the letter was delivered to Professor Krzysztof Kurek, NCBJ Director General. Particular words of gratitude were addressed to Adam Hryczuk, Wojciech Czech and Tomasz Pliszczyński, NCBJ employees directly involved in practical execution of the drill.

Cmdr. Barański who delivered the letter said: „Even the most detailed plans and procedures may be imperfectly matched to reality, there may always be many details that necessitate verification of the plans. That’s why we are obliged to run a drill every year. We must be ready to adapt the plans to changing conditions. The to-day courtesy visit is an opportunity to thank NCBJ management for their cooperation in practical arrangement of the Świerk episode of the 2015 drill. On the other hand we hope  that the Institute will also be interested in participation in “Patrol-2016”, the next edition of the nationwide exercises.

Col. Kot said that General Command of Polish Armed Forces welcomed NCBJ management decision to join the 2015 drill in Świerk. As the coordinator of the Świerk episode he personally would like to point out a good cooperation between NCBJ and all task forces involved in the nationwide exercises.

„Sequence of key events to-be-replayed within framework of the Świerk drill episode has been worked out in NCBJ. We relied here on the expertise and know-how of employees of the Świerk nuclear centre. The studied complex scenario included a terrorist attack followed by release of some radioactive materials and contamination of the environment. An anti-terrorist squad had to be put on alert, then all relevant procedures aimed to de-contaminate the site had to be executed” – said Col. Kot.

„The drill executed in Świerk has demonstrated how important security issues are” – said Prof. Kurek. – “Both for us in Świerk and for the entire nuclear power sector such issues must be an absolute priority. Security in such cases means not only multiple systems protecting nuclear facilities, availability of expert analyses, high professionalism of staff hired to operate nuclear reactor, and physical protection of the facilities. We must be aware that no event involving release of radioactive materials and contamination of the environment could be handled single-handedly by the attacked institution. The drill executed at the NCBJ premises put on a simulated alert all relevant task forces and institutions appointed to react to security threats. Our Świerk-based internal security forces were accompanied by state fire squads, police forces, army squads, rescue teams”.

NCBJ was invited to participate in evaluation of the nationwide Patrol -2015 exercises to be done among a wide group of experts during the 2^nd Scientific Conference of the Nationwide Contamination Detection & Alerting System to be held on October 14–15, 2016. The Conference is also to be a forum to disseminate knowledge on the best methods to provide public safety and to protect against consequences of contamination. Topics to be discussed during the meeting include new methods and techniques of monitoring and identification of chemical, biological and radiological hazards. Public security professionals will have an excellent opportunity to get in touch with innovative equipment developed in NCBJ to detect radioactive materials and explosives.