Key Issues
Nuclear Power Plant Security
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Nuclear Plants Have Robust Structures
The FBI considers security forces and infrastructure at nuclear power plants formidable and considers nuclear power plants difficult to penetrate. In addition to the extensive security at nuclear plants, the defense-in-depth features that protect the public from radiological hazard in the event of a reactor incident also protect the plant’s fuel and related safety systems from attempted sabotage. The design of each plant emphasizes the reliability of plant systems, redundancy and diversity of key safety systems, and other safety features to prevent incidents that could pose a threat to public health and safety.
Steel-reinforced concrete containment structures protect the reactor. Redundant safety and reactor shutdown systems have been designed to withstand the impact of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. Areas of the plant that house the reactor and used reactor fuel also would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial aircraft, according to analyses by the NRC.
Plant personnel are trained in emergency procedures that would be used to keep the plant safe from a sabotage attempt.
Protecting Used Nuclear Fuel
Used nuclear fuel is protected by the same security force and electronic surveillance equipment as the rest of the plant. In addition, as noted above, areas of the plant that house used nuclear fuel would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial aircraft.
Used nuclear fuel is large, heavy and highly radioactive. Handling it under any circumstances requires special equipment.
The used fuel—consisting of small ceramic pellets—is contained in metal fuel rods. The rods are grouped into bundles called assemblies. The average used fuel assembly is 14 feet long and weighs up to 1,600 pounds. Used fuel assemblies are stored in steel-lined concrete vaults filled with water or in robust concrete and steel containers—each weighing more than 100 tons—in a separate, secured area.
Nuclear Plants Have Robust Structures
The FBI considers security forces and infrastructure at nuclear power plants formidable and considers nuclear power plants difficult to penetrate. In addition to the extensive security at nuclear plants, the defense-in-depth features that protect the public from radiological hazard in the event of a reactor incident also protect the plant’s fuel and related safety systems from attempted sabotage. The design of each plant emphasizes the reliability of plant systems, redundancy and diversity of key safety systems, and other safety features to prevent incidents that could pose a threat to public health and safety.
Steel-reinforced concrete containment structures protect the reactor. Redundant safety and reactor shutdown systems have been designed to withstand the impact of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods. Areas of the plant that house the reactor and used reactor fuel also would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial aircraft, according to analyses by the NRC.
Plant personnel are trained in emergency procedures that would be used to keep the plant safe from a sabotage attempt.
Protecting Used Nuclear Fuel
Used nuclear fuel is protected by the same security force and electronic surveillance equipment as the rest of the plant. In addition, as noted above, areas of the plant that house used nuclear fuel would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial aircraft.
Used nuclear fuel is large, heavy and highly radioactive. Handling it under any circumstances requires special equipment.
The used fuel—consisting of small ceramic pellets—is contained in metal fuel rods. The rods are grouped into bundles called assemblies. The average used fuel assembly is 14 feet long and weighs up to 1,600 pounds. Used fuel assemblies are stored in steel-lined concrete vaults filled with water or in robust concrete and steel containers—each weighing more than 100 tons—in a separate, secured area.
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