ML022480213

Gaseous Diffusion Plants NRC Threat Advisory and Protective Measures System

ML022480213
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/19/2002
From:	Pierson R NRC/NMSS/FCSS
To:
References
IN-98-035 RIS-02-012H
Download: ML022480213 (5)

See also: RIS 2002-12H

Text

CONFIDENTIAL

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555-0001

August 19, 2002

NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARY 2002-12H

GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS

NRC THREAT ADVISORY AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES SYSTEM

ADDRESSEES

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulated gaseous diffusion plants.

INTENT

The NRC is issuing this Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) to inform addressees of changes to

the descriptions of the various threat advisory conditions and provide guidance that addressees

may use in preplanning graded protective measures to respond to changes in the threat

environment. This RIS supersedes Information Notice 98-35, Threat Assessments and

Consideration of Heightened Physical Protection Measures (dated September 4, 1998).1 It is

noted that a RIS is generally used to communicate with the nuclear industry on a variety of

matters for which no response or action is required. This RIS communicates actions the NRC

considers appropriate at each threat level. In the interest of expediency, the Commission has

determined that issuance of this RIS is the most efficient mechanism to align the Office of

Homeland Security, NRC, and licensee expectations with respect to licensees response to

threat advisories.

BACKGROUND

The Office of Homeland Security (OHS) has developed a Homeland Security Advisory System

(HSAS) to provide a comprehensive and effective system to disseminate information regarding

the risk of terrorist attacks to Federal, State, and local authorities and the public. The HSAS

implements Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 (HSPD-3), March 11, 2002. This new

Upon Removal of Enclosure 2

this Document is DECONTROLLED/

UNCLASSIFIED

1

Because of its classification as Safeguards Information, NRC restricted distribution of

Information Notice 98-35 to certain classes of licensees.

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system includes five color-coded threat conditions with a description of corresponding actions at

each level. These conditions are:

 Green (Low Condition) Low risk of terrorist attack

 Blue (Guarded Condition) General risk of terrorist attack

 Yellow (Elevated Condition) Significant risk of terrorist attack

 Orange (High Condition) High risk of terrorist attack

 Red (Severe Condition) Severe risk of terrorist attack

DISCUSSION

The HSAS provides a consistent national framework for allowing government officials and

citizens to communicate the nature and degree of terrorist threats. The advisory system

characterizes appropriate levels of vigilance, preparedness, and readiness for each threat

condition and describes associated actions that should be taken to counter and respond to

terrorist activities.

In declaring threat conditions, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Assistant to the

President for Homeland Security will consider, but not be limited to, the following factors:

 To what degree is the threat information credible?

 To what degree is the threat information corroborated?

 To what degree is the threat specific and/or imminent?

 How grave are the potential consequences of the threat?

 To what degree is the target vulnerable to the threat?

HSAS advisories regarding threat conditions may be declared for the entire nation or for a

specific geographical area, or functional or industrial sector, and will be sent to local, State, and

Federal government agencies as appropriate. In general, the threat conditions escalate as the

likelihood or imminence of an attack increases.

Although the threat condition will be determined by the Attorney General, the NRC has the

obligation under HSPD-3 to establish the appropriate protective measures. In addition, the

NRC has the obligation to respond to risks, threats, incidents, and events at NRC-regulated

facilities, or involving NRC-regulated materials.

Upon a declaration of an HSAS threat condition, the NRC will promptly notify affected licensees

of the threat condition and of the appropriate protective measures. In addition, the NRC may

find it appropriate to notify affected licensees to establish certain protective measures in the

absence of an HSAS declaration. The NRC could take such a step, for example, to respond to

an emergency or a site-specific situation.

The NRC is using this RIS to announce its threat advisory and protective measures system to

implement the HSAS for gaseous diffusion plants. The NRC will relay information relating to the

threat conditions using the color-coded system defined by the HSAS. The NRC has also

defined protective measures in five levels, which generally correlate with the five color-coded

conditions of the HSAS. Protective measures at each level build upon the actions defined in

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the lower levels. For example, measures at level III will include those measures taken at levels

I and II.

 The level I (Low) protective measures, which generally correspond to the green

threat condition, are considered to be the routine level of operation and are

satisfied by licensees maintaining the security programs required by the

regulations, individual licenses, and Orders. Measures to enhance security need

to be available so that they can be readied or implemented in higher threat

conditions when called upon.

 The level II (Guarded) protective measures, which generally correspond to the

blue threat condition, warrant more action by the licensees, but will generally not

involve significant action beyond the routine level of operation. These actions

would typically relate to readiness, e.g., notifying personnel to standby, or

bringing in additional security officers to prepare for an enhanced response.

Actions taken at level II will include those taken at level I.

 The level III (Elevated) protective measures, which generally correspond to the

yellow threat condition, warrant enhanced security measures and additional

resources, perhaps on a sustained basis, but would be based on hardware and

personnel already at the licensees disposal. (Note: When the HSAS was first

announced on March 12, 2002, OHS also announced that the country was then

considered to be in a Yellow threat condition.) Actions taken at level III will

include those taken at levels I and II.

 The level IV (High) protective measures, which generally correspond to the

orange threat condition, assume that the licensees security organization is at its

highest sustainable level and that the licensee will request augmentation by local

and State, and possibly Federal, resources to provide additional defensive

capabilities to the extent such resources can be made available. (Note: NRC

advisories will provide additional specific information to the licensee(s) as

information about the threat develops. Any additional licensee actions will be

based upon threat specific information). Actions taken at level IV will include

those taken at levels I, II, and III.

 The level V (Severe) protective measures, which generally correspond to the red

threat condition, assume that the licensee will request augmentation by Federal

resources beyond State and local resources to provide additional defensive

capabilities to the extent such resources can be made available to enhance the

security of the facility. NRC will facilitate implementation of this added Federal

presence. (Note: It is expected that this condition will be limited to one or a very

small number of licensees for a limited period of time. Any additional specific

actions will be based on an ongoing assessment of the threat by the NRC and

other Federal agencies.) Actions taken at level V will include those taken at

levels I, II, III, and IV.

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When the Attorney General of the United States makes a change in threat condition that affects

NRC licensees, the NRC will issue a threat advisory notifying its licensees of the change. The

NRC will refer licensees to the recommended protective measures outlined in the table

attached to this RIS. Regardless of the current threat condition, licensees are required to

comply with existing regulations, licenses, and Orders. The table is designed to provide a clear

description of the basic actions appropriate to achieve the desired level of protection. The NRC

may tailor the protective measures to be implemented based on the nature of the threat,

including specific instructions regarding protection against a specific mode of attack.

In some cases, the circumstances of a particular threat may warrant that additional security

measures be implemented beyond those provided in the attached table. For example, such

additional measures may be necessary depending upon the type of licensee affected, the

safeguards risks associated with various licensed activities, the specific vulnerabilities at a

given site, the suspected mode of attack, and the likelihood and nature of the threat. Although

most terrorist attacks occur without specific warning, whenever possible, the NRC will provide

information about the nature and projected timeframe of the threat.

The protective measures in the attached table are assigned to particular threat levels, reflecting

the seriousness of the threat and the need for timely action to address the threat. Therefore,

prompt implementation of the measures is essential if the steps are to be effective in protecting

the facility.

The Commission may need to direct additional measures to deal with a fast-moving situation in

the transition period before a formal declaration of a threat escalation by the Attorney General.

HSPD-3 makes clear that agency heads retain the authority to respond, as necessary, to risks,

threats, incidents, or events at facilities within the specific jurisdiction of their department or

agency. In these cases, the NRC threat advisory will include additional specific guidance

beyond what is generically prescribed in the tables for a particular threat level.

NRC will update the table enclosed with this RIS as necessary to reflect changes in protective

measures for various threat levels and to reflect results from its ongoing comprehensive review

of security matters. In addition, this RIS will be reviewed at least once a year and revised as

necessary consistent with requirements to report changes to the Office of Homeland Security

by August 1 of each year. Licensees seeking to provide input to the RIS and possible revisions

should forward comments to the contact listed below.

BACKFIT DISCUSSION

RISs are generally used to communicate with the nuclear industry on a variety of matters for

which no response or action is required. This RIS communicates actions the NRC considers

appropriate at each threat level, but these actions are not requirements. A backfit analysis has

not been performed.

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FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION

A notice of opportunity for public comment was not published in the Federal Register because

this RIS is informational. The Commission also plans to issue additional Regulatory Issue

Summaries in this series to cover additional classes of licensees, or NRC-licensed activities, as

NRCs review progresses. Any specific comments should be forwarded to the contact listed

below.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT

This RIS does not request any information collection; therefore, this RIS is not subject to the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).

If you have any questions about this matter, please telephone or e-mail the technical contact

listed below.

R/A Daniel M. Gillen for

Robert C. Pierson, Director

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards

Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards

Contact: Andrew Rayland, NSIR

(301) 415-8102,

E-mail: adr@nrc.gov

Enclosures: (1) HSPD-3, Homeland Security Advisory System

(2) Threat Conditions and Specific Actions for Gaseous Diffusion Plants

CONFIDENTIAL