Security at Nuclear Power Plants, at Best, Inadequate

Gao ID: EMD-77-32 April 7, 1977

Six nuclear power plants were visited to observe security systems and evaluate their effectiveness.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which is responsible for ensuring security from sabotage, had not operated decisively. Security systems at all plants visited could be inadequate to withstand sabotage attempts. NRC failure to define the level of threat and to establish specific requirements have allowed inconsistencies in security systems from plant to plant. Regulations proposed in 1974 would improve security, but as their implementation will take time, precautionary measures must be taken for plants now operating.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: No director on record Team: No team on record Phone: No phone on record


The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.