Washington (Platts)--7Jan2008
A committee of the US House of Representatives said Monday it would
investigate actions by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission following reports
of security guards sleeping on duty at Exelon's Peach Bottom nuclear power
plant.
"It appears that there has been a systematic failure, by both NRC
officials and the nuclear plant licensee, to ensure that these high-risk
facilities are secure and employees are not discouraged from expressing
concerns about safety," said Michigan Democrat John Dingell, chairman of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The committee's oversight and investigations arm is launching a probe on
the matter and also is expected to look into investigations by the NRC
Inspector General on commission decisions regarding the extension of nuclear
power plant licenses.
Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak, also a Michigan Democrat, said he
would seek testimony from the NRC, its inspector general, the Government
Accountability Office, scientists and security guards "to assess what is
broken and how best to fix it."
"We must ensure the NRC is responsive to security lapses, especially now
that there are a number of new license applications for nuclear power plants
flowing into the NRC," Stupak said.
NRC spokeswoman Holly Harrington said the commission had no knowledge of
the pending House investigation and could not comment. But Harrington said the
NRC has had numerous meetings on media reports of the sleeping security guards
at certain nuclear power plants and issued an agency-wide bulletin to plant
operators.
On December 13, the NRC asked licensees to provide within 60 days
information on actions they have taken to ensure plant security guards are
alert on the job and to correct problems in this area. The commission said it
would review the information to determine if additional regulatory actions
were warranted.
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