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Bill Demands Aircraft Protection at Reactors |
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by Mickey McCarter
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Tuesday, 05 August 2008 |
Rep. Markey would increase security at nuclear power plants
A new bill that would upgrade security at civilian nuclear facilities and of nuclear materials that could be used to construct a dirty bomb was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on August 1, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), revealed Monday.
Joined by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Markey announced the bill (HR 6816) would compel the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to require all new nuclear reactors to withstand the impact of a large commercial aircraft. All facilities built after enactment of the rule would need protective measures to prevent the release of any radiation as a result of such an impact.
The bill also would require all nuclear facilities to upgrade security measures for guarding their spent fuel to prevent terrorists from obtaining any radioactive material. It also would require the Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate the need for potassium iodide and other counter-radiation medications in the event of an attack on nuclear facilities.
"We know from Al Qaeda admissions and intelligence reports that terrorists are trying desperately to build dirty bombs or homemade nuclear weapons. We also know that a nuclear reactor has been a desired Al Qaeda target. Unfortunately, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the nuclear industry continue to act as if these threats are somehow merely theoretical. This complacency breeds neglect, and neglect could breed disaster," Markey said in a statement.
Clinton added that she and Markey have worked together on the issue of dirty bombs in the past.
"We have made progress in securing nuclear plants and nuclear materials that can be used to make a dirty bomb, but we need to do even more to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks that would exploit nuclear hazards," Clinton said. "That is why Congressman Markey and I introduced the Dirty Bomb Prevention Act in 2002, why I have continued to press the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to improve nuclear plant security, and why I am proud to introduce this legislation today. This bill will improve safety and security at both existing and proposed nuclear power plants, and will improve tracking and security of radioactive material that could be used to make a dirty bomb."
Clinton has not yet introduced a Senate version of the bill.
The bill essentially would override recent declarations by the NRC that it was unnecessary for all new power plants to implement security measures against the possibility of airplane attacks, which the agency considers a "low likelihood." The agency's current design basis threat, a security profile mandate for all nuclear licensees, does not include aircraft among the credible threats a reactor would like face.
A rule proposed Oct. 3, 2007, under consideration by the agency would require new power plants to assess the threat of an impact of an aircraft, but it would not have necessarily required companies to construct or install any defenses against them.
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Mickey McCarter |
| About the author: |
| eNewsletter Editor/Senior Washington Correspondent,
is a journalist with more than a decade of experience in reporting
on
military affairs and information technology.
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