NRC report published on nuclear security inspections

The report, announced by the NRC on July 6, covers the agency’s security inspection program, including force-on-force exercises, for commercial nuclear power reactors and Category I fuel-cycle facilities. These facilities manufacture fuel for government reactors and process uranium for commercial reactors.

The work: Last year the NRC conducted 193 security inspections at commercial nuclear power plants and Category I fuel-cycle facilities. The inspections included 19 full triennial force-on-force inspections at nuclear power plants and one at a Category I fuel-cycle facility. Force-on-force inspections involve simulated attacks to test the effectiveness of a licensee’s physical protection program. The publicly available inspection results are discussed in the report.

When agency inspectors make a security finding, they ensure that the licensee corrects the situation in a timely manner, according to the NRC. Details of security findings are considered sensitive and not released to the public.

The reason: The NRC noted that the report keeps Congress and the public informed of the agency’s efforts to oversee the protection of the nation’s civilian nuclear power infrastructure and strategic special nuclear material.