GAO Audit Recommends Greater Scrutiny of Nuclear Plant Employees

Worker Spoke of Jihad, Agency Says

In a report released by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., NRC Inspector General Hubert Bell said the commission should revamp employee-screening procedures at nuclear power plants, Bloomberg Businessweek reported. The federal audit of procedures was performed at Schumer's request after Sharif Mobley, arrested for suspected al-Qaeda ties, was found to have worked at six nuclear facilities in six years. Schumer was quoted as saying: "The Mobley arrest showed that we had to devise and implement a much tougher security system to protect our nuclear plants from infiltration."

The audit recommended nuclear power plant operators receive additional training in identifying suspected terrorists, have increased access to criminal databases and perform accelerated re-screening of power plant employees, the Associated Press reported. Schumer said action on the recommendations was required within 30 days.

New York Times, Oct. 5; Associated Press via San Francisco (Calif.) Chronicle, Bloomberg Businessweek, Oct. 4.

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