Physical Protection Rulemaking

A significant rulemaking on physical pro-tection of nuclear power plants is currently underway. Originally published for public comment in the Federal Register on October 26, 2006, the proposed rule enhances requirements for access controls, event reporting, security personnel training, safety and security activity coordination, contingency planning and radiological sabotage protection. It would also add requirements related to background checks for firearms users and authorization for enhanced weapons to fulfill certain provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

• Safety/Security Interface Requirements
  
  The proposed rule’s safety/security requirements define how nuclear power plants are to minimize potential adverse interactions between security activities and other plant activities. The goal is to ensure that neither plant security nor plant safety is compromised.

Amended Regulations - 10 CFR Part 73 “Physical Protection”

• 73.55 “Requirements for physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear power reactors against radiological sabotage”
• 73.56 “Personnel access authorization requirements for nuclear power plants”
• 73.71 “Reporting of safeguards events”
• Part 73 Appendix B “General criteria for security personnel”
• Part 73 Appendix C “Licensee safeguards contingency plans”
• Part 73 Appendix G “Reportable safeguards events”

New Regulations

• 73.18 “Firearms background checks for armed security personnel”
• 73.19 “Authorization for preemption of firearms laws and use of enhanced weapons”
• 73.58 “Safety/security interface requirements for nuclear power reactors”