Key Issues
Plant Security
Each nuclear power plant has extensive security measures in place to protect the facility from intruders. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the nuclear energy industry has substantially enhanced security at nuclear plants.
Nuclear Plant Safety Features
The design of each plant emphasizes the reliability of plant systems. Nuclear plants also feature reliable and diverse key safety systems and strong physical barriers to prevent incidents that could pose a threat to public health and safety. The same features that protect the public and the environment from a radiation release also protect the reactor from outside interference.The reactor is typically protected by about four feet of steel-reinforced concrete with a thick steel liner, and the reactor vessel is made of steel about six inches thick. Steel-reinforced concrete containment structures are designed to withstand the impact of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and airborne objects with a very substantial force.
An independent study confirms that the primary structures of a nuclear plant would withstand the impact of a widebody commercial airliner. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) conducted a state-of-the-art computer modeling study on the impact of a Boeing 767 crash.
EPRI concluded that typical nuclear plant containment structures—as well as used fuel storage pools and steel-and-concrete fuel storage containers—would withstand the impact forces and protect the fuel.
Stringent Federal Security Requirements
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission holds nuclear power plants to the highest security standards of any American industry. Since 2001, the agency has elevated nuclear plant security requirements numerous times by issuing orders and other formal requirements.The industry meets or exceeds these requirements in all areas. As a result, U.S. nuclear power plants are among the nation’s most protected and secure industrial assets.
Security Enhancements
The nation’s 104 nuclear power plants increased their security forces by one-third, to approximately 8,000 officers, after Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, they:
- extended and fortified security perimeters
- increased patrols within security zones
- installed new barriers to protect against vehicle bombs
- installed additional high-tech surveillance equipment
Cyber Security
In 2006, the NRC issued new guidance on the criteria for cyber-security of digital computers used in nuclear plant safety systems.
