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

# §981a. Pilot integrated scanning system

- (a) **Designations—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after October 4, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15)”) shall designate three 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) to pilot an integrated scanning system that couples nonintrusive imaging equipment and [radiation detection equipment](/usc/6/901.md?p=11), which may be provided by the Megaports Initiative of the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) of Energy. In making designations under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall consider three distinct ports with unique features and differing levels of trade volume.
  - (2) **Collaboration and cooperation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall collaborate with the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy and cooperate with the private sector and host foreign government to implement the pilot program under this subsection.
- (b) **Implementation—** Not later than one year after October 4, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall achieve a full-scale implementation of the pilot integrated [screening](/usc/6/901.md?p=13) system, which shall—
  - (1) [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 transit through the terminal;
  - (2) electronically transmit the images and information to the [container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) security initiative [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in the host country and/or Customs and Border Protection [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) for evaluation and analysis;
  - (3) resolve every radiation alarm according to established [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) procedures;
  - (4) utilize the information collected to enhance the Automated Targeting System or other relevant programs; and
  - (5) store the information for later retrieval and analysis.
- (c) **Evaluation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall evaluate the pilot program in [subsection (b)](#b) to determine whether such a system—
  - (1) has a sufficiently low false alarm rate for use in the supply chain;
  - (2) is capable of being deployed and operated at ports overseas, including consideration of cost, [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), and infrastructure required to operate the system;
  - (3) is capable of integrating, where necessary, with existing systems;
  - (4) does not significantly impact trade capacity and flow of cargo at foreign or [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) ports; and
  - (5) provides 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 120 days after achieving full-scale implementation under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) of Energy and the Secretary of State, 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 program implemented under this section;
  - (2) an analysis of the efficacy of the Automated Targeted 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 software that is capable of automatically identifying potential anomalies in scanned [containers](/usc/6/901.md?p=5); and
  - (4) a plan and schedule to expand the integrated scanning system developed under this section to other [container](/usc/6/901.md?p=5) security initiative ports.
- (e) **Implementation—** If the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) determines the available technology meets the criteria outlined in [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15), in cooperation with the Secretary of State, shall seek to secure the cooperation of foreign governments to initiate and maximize the use of such technology at foreign ports to [scan](/usc/6/901.md?p=12) all cargo bound for the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) as quickly as possible.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–295, title V, § 558, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1392.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007, and not as part of the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006, also known as the SAFE Port Act, which comprises this chapter.