philemmons
01-30-07, 02:50 AM
huh
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nuclear power plants do not have to defend against Sept. 11-type air attacks, according to a new rule enacted Monday by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The commission approved the rule describing the types of attacks plants would have to defend against, specifically rejecting the idea of "beamhenge shields" consisting of steel I-beams and cabling erected around sensitive parts of nuclear facilities. The concept is that an incoming plane would hit the shield and not the plant.
Dale Klein, chairman of the NRC, said that nuclear plants are already adequately defended against such attacks. "Nuclear power plants are inherently robust structures that our studies show provide adequate protection in a hypothetical attack by an airplane," he said in a written statement. "The NRC has also taken actions that require nuclear power plant operators to be able to manage large fires or explosions -- no matter what has caused them.
"Finally, the NRC is actively involved with other federal agencies, including the military, to protect all this nation's infrastructure against such attacks."
A coalition of public interest groups and some members of Congress slammed the decision. --From CNN Homeland Security Correspondent Jeanne Meserve (Posted 3:55 p.m.)
source (http://http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/29/monday/index.html)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nuclear power plants do not have to defend against Sept. 11-type air attacks, according to a new rule enacted Monday by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The commission approved the rule describing the types of attacks plants would have to defend against, specifically rejecting the idea of "beamhenge shields" consisting of steel I-beams and cabling erected around sensitive parts of nuclear facilities. The concept is that an incoming plane would hit the shield and not the plant.
Dale Klein, chairman of the NRC, said that nuclear plants are already adequately defended against such attacks. "Nuclear power plants are inherently robust structures that our studies show provide adequate protection in a hypothetical attack by an airplane," he said in a written statement. "The NRC has also taken actions that require nuclear power plant operators to be able to manage large fires or explosions -- no matter what has caused them.
"Finally, the NRC is actively involved with other federal agencies, including the military, to protect all this nation's infrastructure against such attacks."
A coalition of public interest groups and some members of Congress slammed the decision. --From CNN Homeland Security Correspondent Jeanne Meserve (Posted 3:55 p.m.)
source (http://http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/01/29/monday/index.html)