Statement of Senator Jim Jeffords
Legislative Hearing on Nuclear Security
June 5, 2002
We
have before us the very important task of reviewing legislation that will
enhance security at our nation's nuclear power plants and other civilian
facilities that utilize radioactive materials for commercial or research
purposes.
In
his State of the Union address, President Bush informed us that authorities had
found, among other things, diagrams of American nuclear power plants in
terrorist caves, along with surveillance maps of American cities.
In
February, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, responding to FBI reports,
issued a warning of potential airliner attacks against a U.S. nuclear power
plant.
Numerous
media accounts have analyzed in detail the possibility of creating "dirty
bombs," from a combination of readily available commercial sources of
radiation, and common explosives.
We
all know that the credibility of these threats is inherently difficult to
pinpoint, but we all also know that the seriousness with which they must be
viewed has changed forever since the events of September 11th. These are sobering times.
I
commend the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, whose Chairman, Richard Meserve
is with us this morning, for the prompt and comprehensive efforts of that
agency to address threats to our civilian nuclear facilities. I have been briefed on the fact that they
have placed our nation's commercial nuclear reactors on the highest state of
alert since September 11th, and that they are conducting a
top-to-bottom review of their safeguards and security program. This includes working closely with the
intelligence community and others to coordinate all necessary programs.
They
have also established a new Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response to
consolidate certain NRC security functions.
They have assured us that they are taking every precaution to ensure the
safety of our nuclear facilities.
I am
also aware however of a variety of criticisms and concerns that have been
leveled at safety procedures at our nuclear facilities in the past.
In
spite of as much as six months advance notice, up to half our nation's nuclear
power plants have performed below the NRC's minimum security requirements
during NRC-sponsored mock terrorist activities. Because of resource constraints, the NRC has tested security at
each nuclear power plant only once every eight years.
The
current design basis threat, which sets standards for actions facilities must
take to defend against attack, has not been significantly revised in over 40
years, and did not envision the type of terrorist attacks we now assume are
possible following the events of September 11th. There are significant concerns both about
the design of plants, the ability to defend against insider sabotage, and the
location of spent fuel pools.
Former
employees have complained of inadequate training and background checks of
security guards and other personnel.
These inconsistencies must be reviewed and remedied.
We
must take strong and focused action to ensure that terrorists continue to view
our nuclear power plants as undesirable targets, targets that are strongly
protected and difficult to damage.
It is
the duty of this Congress, and this Committee in particular, to make sure that
the there is effective coordination and cooperation between licensees, the NRC,
appropriate Federal agencies, and State and local governments in preventing
criminal and terrorist access to our nuclear power plants and radioactive
materials.
As
the House and Senate, in cooperation with the Administration, proceed this week with intelligence hearings
on the events leading up to the September 11th attacks, this need
for effective coordination among the various agencies responsible for security
is starkly highlighted.
We
have been warned. We know these are
possible targets. We know there have
been problems in the past. We must
allocate the resources to fully address these concerns. A single successful attack would make it
clear, in hindsight, that it would have been worth the effort.
It is
my intent to work with my colleagues on this Committee and with the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to quickly pass legislation out of this Committee that
will ensure strong, consistent and reliable standards for protection of our
civilian nuclear facilities. We cannot
and will not allow the fear factor to hamper our communities.
It is
necessary for the public to know that strong measures are in place to protect
their homes and families against attack by those who hate us and our way of
life. As Chairman of this Committee, I
intend to see such measures taken. I
trust I will have the full support of the United States Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and my colleagues in this important matter.