"Multiple security guards were inattentive on multiple occasions" in the
security "ready room" at Peach Bottom earlier this year, an NRC inspection
concluded in findings released October 9. However, NRC inspectors found no
evidence of inattentive guards beyond the 10 members of the one guard team
caught on videotape by a whistleblower, nor was there evidence of
inattentiveness (often a euphemism for sleeping on the job) at plant locations
other than in the ready room, Marsha Gamberoni, director of the division of
reactor safety at NRC's Region I office, said at an October 9 press conference
in Delta, Pennsylvania, near the plant.
The inspectors did confirm that Wackenhut supervisors at Peach Bottom had
been notified of the inattentiveness earlier this year but failed to follow
up, said Jim Trapp, director of the inspection team. NRC Region I
Administrator Samuel Collins said that a review of the guards' work records
determined that excessive overtime was "not a factor" in their
inattentiveness. Collins said that the inspectors concluded that Peach
Bottom's security program "provided reasonable assurance" of security at the
plant "at all times." NRC is conducting follow-up inspections and will review
operator Exelon's root cause analysis which is due to be concluded at the end
of the month, Collins said.