Cost of border radiation monitors climbs

WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- The cost to put new radiation monitors in place at U.S. borders and ports would be far more than the Department of Homeland Security said, budget papers show.

The department's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office said two years ago the monitors would cost more than $500,000 each to buy and deploy, and Congress allowed the office to move ahead with a $1.2 billion plan to begin deploying the devices -- known as advanced spectroscopic portal monitors, or ASPs -- The Washington Post reported Saturday.

A Homeland Security spokesman said current cost estimates appear higher because they include current expenses to deploy the machines, including costs for labor and machine calibration.

"The cost per unit of the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal system has not increased in price. The cost was previously quoted to Congressional staff and the Government Accountability Office as approximately $377,000," spokesman Russ Knocke said.

"Congressional officials were also advised that there was a deployment cost associated with each system that includes a one year maintenance contract. The cost of deployment is approximately $325,000 and $400,000 per unit for current generation Radiation Portal Monitors and Advanced Spectroscopic Portal systems, respectively," Knocke said.