NRC: News Release - 2002-094 - NRC Orders Enhanced Security for Enriched Uranium Fuel Fabricators


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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs	Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001	E-mail: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 02-094

August 22, 2002

NRC ORDERS ENHANCED SECURITY FOR
ENRICHED URANIUM FUEL FABRICATORS
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued immediately effective Orders to BWX Technologies, Inc. and Nuclear Fuel Services to implement interim compensatory security measures for the current threat environment. These companies, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Erwin, Tennessee, respectively, fabricate enriched uranium fuel for nuclear reactors.

Like the NRC's February 25 Orders issued to operating commercial nuclear power plants, these Orders are immediately effective and formalize a series of security measures that NRC licensees have taken in response to NRC advisories, or on their own, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Additional security enhancements resulting from NRC's on-going comprehensive security review are also spelled out in the Orders.

Although the details are sensitive and not publicly available, the Orders generally include requirements for increased patrols, augmented security forces and capabilities, additional security posts, installation of additional physical barriers, vehicle checks at greater standoff distances, enhanced coordination with law enforcement and military authorities, and more restricted site access controls.

Licensees are required to provide NRC with a schedule within 20 days for achieving full compliance. Licensees must also notify NRC within 20 days and justify in writing if they are unable to comply with any of the requirements of the Order, if compliance with any requirement is believed unnecessary in their specific circumstances, or if implementation of any requirement would cause the licensee to be in violation of the provisions of any NRC regulation or the facility's license, or adversely impact the safe operation of the facility.

These security requirements will remain in effect until the NRC determines that the threat level has diminished, or that other changes are needed as a result of the NRC's comprehensive safeguards and security program re-evaluation.

A copy of the non-sensitive portion of the Orders will be posted on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/security/post-911.html, under Orders.

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