---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 981"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "981"
heading: "Pilot integrated scanning system"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/981"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter II — Security of the International Supply Chain"
  - "Part C — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §981. Pilot integrated scanning system

- (a) **Designations—** Not later than 90 days after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall designate 3 foreign seaports through which [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) pass or are transshipped to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) for the establishment of pilot integrated scanning systems that couple nonintrusive imaging equipment and [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11). In making the designations under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall consider 3 distinct ports with unique features and differing levels of trade volume.
- (b) **Coordination—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall—
  - (1) coordinate with the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy, as necessary, to provide [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11) through the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy’s Second Line of Defense and Megaports programs; or
  - (2) work with the private sector or, when possible, host governments to obtain [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11) that meets both the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7)’s and the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy’s technical specifications for such equipment.
- (c) **Pilot system implementation—** Not later than 1 year after October 13, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall achieve a full-scale implementation of the pilot integrated scanning system at the ports designated under [subsection (a)](#a), which—
  - (1) shall [scan](/usc/6/901.md?p=12) all [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) destined for the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) that are loaded in such ports;
  - (2) shall electronically transmit the images and information to appropriate [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) Government [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in the country in which the port is located or in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) for evaluation and analysis;
  - (3) shall resolve every radiation alarm according to established [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) procedures;
  - (4) shall utilize the information collected to enhance the Automated Targeting System or other relevant programs;
  - (5) shall store the information for later retrieval and analysis; and
  - (6) may provide an automated notification of questionable or high-risk cargo as a trigger for further [inspection](/usc/6/901.md?p=9) by appropriately trained [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15).
- (d) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after achieving full-scale implementation under [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in consultation with the Secretary of State and, as appropriate, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy, shall submit a report to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/901.md?p=1), that includes—
  - (1) an evaluation of the lessons derived from the pilot system implemented under this subsection;
  - (2) an analysis of the efficacy of the Automated Targeting System or other relevant programs in utilizing the images captured to examine high-risk [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5);
  - (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the integrated scanning system in detecting shielded and unshielded nuclear and radiological material;
  - (4) an evaluation of software and other technologies that are capable of automatically identifying potential anomalies in scanned [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5); and
  - (5) an analysis of the need and feasibility of expanding the integrated scanning system to other [container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) security initiative ports, including—
    - (A) an analysis of the infrastructure requirements;
    - (B) a projection of the effect on current average processing speed of containerized cargo;
    - (C) an evaluation of the scalability of the system to meet both current and future forecasted trade flows;
    - (D) the ability of the system to automatically maintain and catalog appropriate data for reference and analysis in the event of a [transportation disruption](/usc/6/901.md?p=16);
    - (E) an analysis of requirements, including costs, to install and maintain an integrated scanning system;
    - (F) the ability of administering [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) to efficiently manage and utilize the data produced by a nonintrusive scanning system;
    - (G) the ability to safeguard commercial data generated by, or submitted to, a nonintrusive scanning system; and
    - (H) an assessment of the reliability of currently available technology to implement an integrated scanning system.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title II, § 231, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1915.)