Indian Pt. survives 'raids'

The Associated Press ^ | August 12, 2003

[presidio9]

A private security force "successfully protected" the Indian Point nuclear plants against mock intruders during last month's secretive drills, according to the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In a letter to several New York officials, dated Aug. 7 and made public yesterday, Chairman Nils Diaz said he was satisfied after watching two days of a "force-on-force" exercise.

"The licensee has a strong defensive strategy and capability," Diaz wrote. "The Indian Point security force personnel successfully protected the plant from repeated mock-adversary attacks."

Entergy Nuclear Northeast, owner of the twin nuclear plants 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan, said the conclusion "should reassure any reasonable person who has had concerns about security there."

But Alex Matthiessen, executive director of the environmental organization Riverkeeper and a leading critic of security at the plant, called the assessment meaningless.

"When the NRC subjects Indian Point to a 9/11-level mock attack and they do it with independent observers, only then will I believe that the drills are legitimate," Matthiessen said.

Security at and around Indian Point has been a major issue in the lower Hudson Valley since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Hundreds of officials have called for a shutdown, but Entergy and the NRC consistently have found that the plants are safe.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency ruled last month that emergency plans are adequate, despite a consultant's finding that terrorism was not taken into account.

[chimera]

I've always issued the challenge to anti-nook kooks and others here on FR and elsewhere who say how vulnerable nuclear plants are to armed attacks and how supposedly weak their security forces are to do the following: try a raid yourself if its so easy. If these places are so poorly protected, surely smart and resourceful (to hear them tell it) anti-nuclear kooks can pull it off. Go ahead and try to break into the vital areas of one of these facilities. See how long they live.

You'll be shocked and chagrined, I'm sure, to hear that there have been no takers.