US nuclear plant anti-terrorist measures consolidated
03 July 2007
Measures at the 104 US nuclear power stations to mitigate the effects of large fires and explosions that could result from a terrorist attack, including the impact of a large commercial aircraft, are now mostly in place and, with minor exceptions, will be completed by the end of 2007, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has said.
In early 2002 the NRC ordered a sweeping series of nuclear plant security upgrades in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Nuclear plant operators have been working since then to implement site-specific measures to increase physical security and add measures to mitigate the possible effects of a large fire or explosion, including those caused by the deliberate or accidental impact of a large commercial aircraft. To consolidate the security enhancements, the NRC has now started issuing site-specific safety evaluation reports to plants to ensure that utilities maintain those measures.
The safety evaluation reports are part of a broader NRC effort to "significantly upgrade plant safety and security". The measures are required through legally binding revisions to plant operating licences, and inspection of the measures will become part of the routine inspection regime at all operating reactors. Safety evaluations have now been sent to eight of the country's operating units, with the remainder to be issued over the next two months. Although letters making changes to licensing conditions will be made public, specific details at each site will not be made available "because the NRC does not release information that might assist terrorists."
Nuclear plants are already recognised as robust, with the very design features that protect against external hazards such as tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as nuclear accidents, providing protection against potential acts of terrorism. NRC recently proposed changes in security requirements for future nuclear power stations, calling for vendors to assess how reactor designs could have greater built-in protection against the results of an aircraft strike.