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Phone: (919) 416-5077 Fax: (919) 286-3985 ncwarn@ncwarn.org www.ncwarn.org |
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NEWS RELEASE Contact: Jim Warren 919-416-5077
N-Plant Security Failures Confirmed by
Federal Regulators
Harris
guards and watchdog groups say system must change to prioritize safety and
security
The Harris security problems
were aired by NC WARN and the Union of Concerned Scientists in December based
on reports from Harris guards frustrated that their complaints to the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission were being ignored. The allegations included security doors, g
David Lochbaum is a nuclear
safety expert with Union of Concerned Scientists. Today he asked, “How could Progress Energy and
the NRC, with all the alleged emphasis on nuclear plant security after 9/11,
have serious flaws remain uncorrected until a few brave security officers
risked their careers to come forward and call attention to them?”
NRC reported that at least 14
doors to vital plant areas have malfunctioned.
Regarding documents showing multiple security and fire doors were
malfunctioning up to six years ago, NRC Region II security head Victor McCree
told NC WARN and UCS that NRC did not need to investigate them, saying, “It
was pretty clear that the licensee should have taken action long ago.”
None of the guards’
allegations were refuted, although NRC said its investigators were unable to
substantiate some of them. Other
allegations were confirmed by actions taken by state labor officials and
OSHA. Additionally, reports by guards of
several intruder/security incidents in recent months were confirmed by Progress
Energy and law enforcement.
Although going public triggered
action by Progress Energy to fill a number of security gaps, the guards and
groups remain concerned the changes will be short-lived unless managers stop
prioritizing cost-saving over security.
News
reports indicate Progress Energy is under great pressure to reduce its $11
billion debt and improve its financial status.
Still ongoing are
investigations into forced cheating on certification exams; and reprisals against
guards for reporting security violations, including injuries that could render
security officers unable to respond to intruders. Progress announced today that it is retesting
all security guards. The NRC’s Inspector
General is investigating the agency’s activities during the investigation
following complaints about possible misconduct.
The two complainant organizations
met with senior NRC officials today by phone, and received a more detailed version
of the NRC report than one released to the media. More à
Lochbaum added: “Progress needs to stand behind its
statements about prioritizing safety; correcting security problems only after
lots of media coverage seems to contradict that posture.”
A number of guards have
talked privately with NC WARN, UCS and reporters, but remain anonymous. Although the state labor department ordered
several guards reinstated after being fired for reporting injuries, guards
remain concerned about the pattern of reprisals at Shearon Harris.
“Given the industry’s longstanding and
pervasive control over NRC, we appreciate that these NRC security officials
could get to the root of many of these problems.” said NC WARN Director Jim Warren. “NRC’s report today said seven of the
charges were substantiated and are being corrected. Progress said today it is taking corrective
measures and we are pleased with that action.”
This is the third set of
serious security failures at Harris in recent years. Twice in the late 1990s, the company allowed
workers who had failed background checks into Harris and other plants. A similar incident occurred last year at its
Harris guards say the force
is not large enough to defend against a realistic level of attack, and that the
intrusions at Harris – all unsolved by law enforcement – are but one indication
that defense at nuclear plants falls far short of the level needed. A recent “update” of plant defenses by NRC
requires defense against fewer than one-third of the 9/11 attack force, armed
only with light weapons. The agency says
the Air Force is responsible for countering any attack from the air. Some Harris guards were startled last fall to
see a British jetliner flying
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NC WARN is a
grassroots non-profit using science and activism to tackle climate change and
reduce hazards to public health and the environment from nuclear power and
other polluting electricity production, and working for a transition to
safe, economical energy in North Carolina.