[ RadSafe ] Armed guard found asleep at nuke plant

[Sandy Perle]

Note: With the positive public attitude towards the nuclear energy 
renaissance, occurrences such as this are not to be tolerated. It 
will be interesting to see what action the utility takes instead of 
simply stating that there was no breach during this "siesta".

Armed guard found asleep at nuke plant

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.(AP) Aug 27 - A federal inspector found an armed 
guard asleep at a gate inside the Indian Point nuclear power plants 
but officials said Monday there was no security breach. 
 
The inspector spent two minutes trying to rouse the unnamed guard 
Sunday afternoon before the guard "stood up and opened his eyes," 
said Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The five-year veteran was alone on the second of three security rings 
around the two plants in Buchanan, about 35 miles north of New York 
City, Sheehan said.

He said other security measures at the gate remained in operation 
during the guard's nap and tapes showed there was no breach, "but 
that doesn't make it any less serious."

Jim Steets, spokesman for Indian Point owner Entergy Nuclear, said 
the other measures included a palm-print reader and a badge scanner. 
The two would have had to match before the gate would open.

There was another security ring that would have had to be passed to 
reach critical areas, including the reactor and the spent-fuel pool, 
Sheehan said.

The guard was found sleeping during a "backshift" inspection - 
focused on night and weekend operations.

Sheehan said Entergy "needs to get to the bottom of this and make 
sure the staff knows this is unacceptable."

Steets said the guard, an Entergy employee, was placed on 
administrative leave pending tests for drugs and alcohol and a 
review. He said the guard carried a sidearm.

He said security guards are rotated from post to post during their 12-
hour shifts - "in part to keep them attentive" - and the guard had 
worked two previous posts on Sunday. His shift began at 6 a.m.

Indian Point, on the Hudson River 35 miles north of midtown 
Manhattan, has attracted widespread criticism, especially since the 
Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The problems included siren failures 
and leaks of radioactive water.

Officials and activists say its safety and security are questionable. 
Federal regulators have turned away attempts to have it shut down, 
however.

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Sander C. Perle 
President
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc. 
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714 Extension 2306 
Fax:(949) 296-1144

E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at cox.net

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/