ML081580426

Letter from Samuel Collins to Loyd Johnson Responding to His 09/26/01 Message to Congressman Kenny Hulshof

ML081580426
Person / Time
Site:	Callaway
Issue date:	03/28/2002
From:	Collins S Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Johnson L - No Known Affiliation
References
FOIA/PA-2008-0210
Download: ML081580426 (2)

Text

I . "

March 28, 2002 Mr. Loyd Johnson b)(6)

Dear Mr. Johnson:

This is in response to your September 26, 2001, message to Congressman Kenny Hulshof concerning security at nuclear powers plants. I regret the delay in responding to it; however, your note was originally sent to the Department of Energy instead of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Your note mentioned a "potential bomb threat in Fulton at the Callaway County Nuclear Plant,"

and asked if the plant was well guarded. With respect to the bomb threat, the NRC monitors such matters and is not aware of a bomb threat at the Callaway Nuclear Plant during that time

-period. In response to the heightened threat environment that the United States has been in since September 11, 2001, the licensees have raised security awareness at their sites and the NRC has taken all potential threats seriously, requiring licensees to take specific steps and relying on other Federal agencies to support response to such threats.

With respect to the level of security at its licensed facilities, the NRC's requirements for physical protection appear in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). Section 73.55 of 10 CFR refers specifically to the protection of nuclear power plants against radiological sabotage and requires that licensees operating these plants have a security organization, physical barriers, access controls, intrusion detection systems, and response plans, among other requirements, for dealing with terrorist attacks. These measures have been supplemented since September 11, 2001, with additional barriers, enhanced patrols, additional posts, restrictions on personnel and vehicle access, and greater coordination with local, State, and Federal resources. The NRC believes that these measures provide an adequate level of security for the current threat environment.

Thank you for your interest in security at nuclear power plants.

Sincerely, IRA/

Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: The Honorable Kenny Hulshof

2 Mr. I.yd Johnson March 28, 2002 r

b)(6)

Dear Mr. Johnson:

This is in response to your September 26, 2001, message to Congressman Kenny Hulshof concerning security at nuclear powers plants. I regret the delay in responding to it; however, your note was originally sent to the Department of Energy instead of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Your note mentioned a "potential bomb threat in Fulton at the Callaway County Nuclear Plant,"

and asked if the plant was well guarded. With respect to the bomb threat, the NRC monitors such matters and is not aware of a bomb threat at the Callaway Nuclear Plant during that time period. In response to the heightened threat environment that the United States has been in since September 11, 2001, the licensees have raised security awareness at their sites and the NRC has taken all potential threats seriously, requiring licensees to take specific steps and relying on other Federal agencies to support response to such threats.

With respect to the level of security at its licensed facilities, the NRC's requirements for physical protection appear in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). Section 73.55 of 10 CFR refers specifically to the protection of nuclear power plants against radiological sabotage and requires that licensees operating these plants have a security organization, physical barriers, access controls, intrusion detection systems, and response plans, among other requirements, for dealing with terrorist attacks. These measures have been supplemented since September 11, 2001, with additional barriers, enhanced patrols, additional posts, restrictions on personnel and vehicle access, and greater coordination with local, State, and Federal resources. The NRC believes that these measures provide an adequate level of security for the current threat environment.

Thank you for your interest in security at nuclear power plants.

Sincerely, IRA!

Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of.Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc: The Honorable Kenny Hulshof DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC RidsNrrDIpm(JZwolinskilTMarsh)

ERCT r/f RidsNrrDIpm(JDonoghue)

WTravers - Hard Copy RidsNrrAdpt(BSheron)

CPaperiello RidsOgcMailCenter(OGC)

WKane RidsOpaMailCenter(OPA)

PNorry RidsRgnlVMailCenter(J. Donohew, RIV)

JCraig RidsNrrWpc(TJCarter, EDO#G20020126)

RidsOgcMailCenter(SBurns/KCyr) Ridsl roOd(RWessman)

RidsNmssOd(MVirgilio/MFederline) RidsNrrDipm(BBogerlWDean)

RidsNrrOd(SCollins/JJohnson) SECY LTR-02-0163 OCA

• Previously Concurred ADAMS Accession Numbers: Package: ML020720555; Incoming: ML020660271; Response: EDO-003 OFFICE DIPM/IRSB DIPM/IRSB NRR/

DIPM NRR/ADIP NRR/D1 er* WBorchardt SCollins NAME RRosano* GTracy* BBog 02 03/22/02 03/27/02 DATE 03/13/02 03114102 31211(

• See previous concurrence OFFICIAL RECORD COPY