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U.S. to Train and Equip Lithuanian Customs Service to Detect Sensitive Metals

28 September 2005

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with funding from the U.S. Department of State's Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program will train and provide equipment to Lithuanian Customs Officials September 28-29 to identify sensitive metal alloys that may be used in construction of weapons of mass
destruction or other non-commercial applications.

NNSA will provide two hand-held Innov-X tube-based Alpha Series XRF Units and demonstrate there use in workplace applications. XRF is a standard technique for metals analysis. The two XRF units are valued at $54,000.

The equipment and training will assist Lithuanian Customs officials to ensure the integrity of Lithuania's borders by preventing the traffic of sensitive materials and also allow them to validate customs declarations of metals.