Security and Nuclear Plants
 
" The...September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks left an indelible imprint on our memory and served as the catalyst for lasting enhancements to NRC's security program."  Chairman Allison Macfarlane
 
 
 Nuclear security is a high priority for the NRC.
 
Nuclear power plants are some of the best protected private sector facilities in the U.S. through:
strong regulations
 
 robust force-on-force inspections
 
 
threat assessments
 
strict cyber security rules
 
access restrictions
 
guns, guards and gates
 
Also important are the coordination and sharing of information with:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
the FBI, intelligence agencies, Department of Defense and local law enforcement.
 
NRC regulations say nuclear plants and fuel facilities must defend successfully against Design-Basis Threat.
DBT= a set of hypothetical threats that challenge a plant's security.
 
The DBT is based on realistic assessments of:
 
the tactics, techniques and procedures
used by international and domestic terrorist groups and organizations.
Force-on-force inspections test plant's response to the DBT at least once every three years.
A highly trained mock adversary force"attacks" a nuclear facility over several days.
The NRC observes to make sure the plant protects vital safety systems.
 
If not the NRC puts extra measures in place. Then the plant makes changes and is inspected again.
Security inspections: by the numbers:
8,000 of force-on-force inspections, and
16,000 hours a year scrutinizing security at nuclear plants and fuel facilities.
What about cyber security?
The reactor control system of nuclear plants are isolated from the Internet and all must have a cyber security program.
The NRC's cyber security team includes technology and threat experts.
It's not just plants that must be protected
Radioactive material must be secure, too.
Radioactive materials are used every day in laboratories, medical centers, food irradiation plants and for industrial uses.
If stolen or otherwise acquired, many of these materials could be used in "radiological dispersal devices" also know as a "dirty bomb"
A joint NRC-DOE database tracks the movement and location of certain special nuclear material.
The NRC's National Source Tracking System continuously tracks the most risk-sensitive radiation materials.
   U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents can promptly validate radioactive materials coming into the U.S.
The NRC tracks more than 80,000 radioactive source materials
held by about 1,400 NRC and Agreement State licensees.
"The NRC and its licensees work together to maintain a robust security program that protects some our nation's mos sensitive assets."  NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane 
U.S.NRC Stay Connected www.nrc.gov
