A few minutes ago, NEI issued a statement concerning the security of the nation's 100 operating nuclear reactors. The statement comes in response to the release yesterday of a report by the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project. Here's the nut graf:
A report by a graduate research assistant at the University of Texas’ Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project, released Aug. 15, is an academic paper developed for discussion among academia of the appropriate security levels at nuclear energy facilities. It is not a full assessment of security, nor does the author of the report have access to the safeguarded information that she would need to make such as assessment.See our website for more information on nuclear power plant security.
Like many such evaluations that examine the potential theft of uranium fuel from commercial reactors, the NPPP report fails to explain how attackers would be able to dislodge highly irradiated uranium fuel—800 to 1,200-pound, 18-foot-tall fuel bundles—and maneuver them from reactors, storage pools or steel and concrete containers past layers of elaborate security.
Comments
James Greenidge
Queens BY
It's tough to avoid the conclusion they intentionally released that steaming pile of fetid dingo kidneys in the middle of the August news desert, complete with the "SO CLOSE to the White House" fearmongering. And the media dutifully gnawed on that dry bone. Sad.
But to NEI - most PWR fuel weighs 1000 lbs and is 12 feet long; BWR less. I know of no assemblies 18 feet long.
Sadly, I must also agree with James Greenidge.
Steve