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	NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406
	CONTACT:	Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov

I-97-116

September 5, 1997

Special Nuclear Regulatory Commission security inspections at three northeastern nuclear plants have found that their access authorization programs meet regulatory requirements.

The agency staff is now reviewing the findings to determine whether any actions are warranted, including changes in NRC requirements, which could affect security programs at all licensed nuclear power plants.

NRC scheduled the inspections after learning that Carl Drega--who killed four people in New Hampshire before being killed in a police shootout in August--had worked at the three plants at various times as a contractor employee.

Inspections were conducted August 26-29 at Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vt.; at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Mass.; and at Indian Point Unit 3 in Buchanan, N.Y. The purpose was to determine if the access authorization programs, as implemented, identified information that should have precluded Drega from being granted unescorted access.

At each of the sites, inspectors found that access authorization programs met NRC regulatory requirements. In addition, the inspectors did not find any information licensees used in processing the individual that should have precluded them from granting unescorted access to the secured portions of the plants.

Copies of the inspection reports are available from the Region I Public Affairs Office, or on the NRC's web page: <http://www.nrc.gov/OPA/reports>.