ML20035C641
| ML20035C641 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 03/03/1993 |
| From: | Gejdenson S, Lehman R, Markey E, Geoffrey Miller, Sharp P HOUSE OF REP., HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE |
| To: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19342A696 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9304080230 | |
| Download: ML20035C641 (2) | |
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Congress of tfje Mnittb States J)ouse of Representatibes Masfjington, DC 20515 March 3, 1993 Mr. Ivan Selin Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Selin:
We are writing to urge the Commission to reconsider nuclear power plant security requirements in light of the February 7, 1993 incident at the Three Mile Island reactor where an intruder drove his car into the plant's protected area and hid for about four hours before he was found.
This incident raises serious questions about the adequacy of power reactor security in the United States.
The recent incident at TMI appears to confirm many of the past concerns of the Congress regarding nuclear power plant security.
In 1988, the Subcommittee on General Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Representative Sam Gejdenson, held a hearing which focused on the fact that NRC security regulations assume that plant intruders do not have a motor vehicle.
The same regulations remain in force today.
Consequently, power reactors are not required to have vehicle barriers to prevent intruders from driving right into the middle of a reactor complex, which is precisely what occurred at Three Mile Island.
At the 1988 hearing, Representative Gejdenson strongly criticized the failure of the NRC security regulations to require protections against intrusions by motor vehicles.
Nevertheless, the Commission, then headed by Chairman Lando Zech, Jr.,
refused to consider any changes in this security regulation or even engage in a constructive dialogue on the issue.
A few years earlier, in 1986, the Commission by a vote of 3-2, rejected a proposal to require vehicle barriers at power reactors, which the NRC staff then estimated would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to install at each facility.
Surprisingly, the Nuclear Management and Resources Council, a nuclear industry consortium, wrote the NRC in late 1992 to recommend that security regulations relating to plant intruders be relaxed.
The recent incident at TMI indicates that this industry recommendation is imprudent and we recommend that the Commission reject the industry proposal.
Furthermore, we Dlo807 f
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l Page Two Mr. Ivan Selin j
March 3, 1993 i
strongly urge the Commission to consider strengthening NRC security regulations through requiring the installation of l
vehicle barriers at commercial power reactors.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, b ll
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da Committee on f{ratural Resources
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l ge Miller Chairmhn tommittee o tfral Resources l
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Pitil Sharp, Chairman Rick Lehman, Chairman l
Subcommittee on Ener and Power Subcommittee on Energy and l
Committee on Energy and Commerce Mineral Resources Committee on Natural Resources v/
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, n,,y,it a Ed Markey, Member j Committee on Natural Resources Committee on Energy and Commerce l
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cc: Commissioners Rogers, Curtiss, Remick, dePlanque
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