July 6, 2004
BY GARRY LENTON
The Patriot-News
Nuclear plant owners are unlikely to leave the entrances to their power plants unguarded.
But if they did, they would not be violating any federal requirements.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that regulates commercial nuclear power plants, doesn't require armed guards at their entrances.
The Harrisburg-based watchdog group, Three Mile Island Alert, asked the NRC to mandate armed guards at plant entrances on Sept. 12, 2001.
Two and a half years later, the agency is considering the request, but has yet to make a decision.
"It's still being processed," said Diane Screnci, a spokeswoman for the NRC.
To Scott Portzline, a member of Three Mile Island Alert who specializes in nuclear plant security, the agency's slowness to act seems like stonewalling.
"We've been hearing that the [answer] will be ready in three months for a year and a half," Portzline said.
The agency is dragging its feet because it doesn't want to require the guards and it fears such a ruling would be unpopular, Portzline said.
Screnci denied the accusation.
"I disagree with the statement that the NRC is stonewalling on the request," she said. "We have been processing this request and will be responding to it in the future."
She said it is not unusual for requests like the watchdog group's -- formally called petitions for rulemaking -- to take a long time.
The watchdog group's petition asked the NRC to require plant operators to keep at least one armed guard at each entrance to their plant. It maintained that the guards would serve as a physical and visual deterrent against attacks, the petition said.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the NRC has issued new security requirements aimed at making the plants less vulnerable to attack.
Those changes have included increased security forces and patrols; addition of barriers and fencing; vehicle checks and larger stand-off distances (a protection against truck bombs); deeper background checks of plant workers, and better coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
"The 103 operating nuclear power plants are the most heavily defended and physically robust civilian facilities in the United States," Screnci said.
AmerGen, operator of Three Mile Island, keeps heavily armed guards at the main entrance to the plant in Londonderry Twp. And the south entrance to the plant, more than a mile from the protected area, is under video surveillance.
Portzline acknowledges the unlikelihood that a plant entrance would be unguarded now. But he maintains the rule should be made part of the NRC official record.
"If you have no regulation, then there is no standard that they have to meet," he said. "For all intents and purposes a busload of terrorists could drive onto a plant ... exit and do a commando raid."
But the Nuclear Energy Institute, which represents the owners and operators of the nation's 103 nuclear stations, argues that requiring guards is unnecessary. Guards should be posted when the level of security threat makes it prudent, wrote Lynette Hendricks of NEI.
"Such a decision should not be made in isolation," she wrote. "Rather, it should be based on results of the integrated top-to-bottom review."
Plant operators may be concerned about the cost. Shortly after AmerGen took over operations at TMI, the company eliminated the guard position at the plant's north gate as a cost-cutting measure. It reinstated the guard post after Sept. 11.
State Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, whose district includes TMI, criticized the NRC for taking so long to respond to the petition.
"Unfortunately, the NRC is infamous for its lengthy decision-making process and lack of response to inquiries," said Smith, who wrote a letter supporting Three Mile Island Alert's request two years ago.
Now, however, Smith said the need for the rule is moot because of the security upgrades the nuclear industry has made.
"Prior to 9-11 I felt the need [for better security]," he said. "But I think and hope that security at all nuclear plants has been greatly enhanced since 9-11."
GARRY LENTON: 255-8264 or glenton@patriot-news.com
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