Clay Johnson
Chief, Security Performance Evaluation Branch
They
are dressed in camouflage, fit and well-trained, and they creep quietly
toward the perimeter of a nuclear power plant under cover of darkness.
Their realistic weapons reflect dully in the moonlight, but these
weapons fire blank ammunition and lasers that record hits and misses.
Their
goal? A particular target set within the plant which, if compromised,
could impact the safety of the plant and the community that surrounds
it. The target set this night? A closely guarded secret known only to
the “armed intruders” and the NRC inspection team that includes active
duty military members from the U.S. Special Operations Command.
The
attacks will be repeated over the course of three days and nights so
that different attack methods and various targets at each nuclear power
plant are tested. In each scenario, the plant’s security personnel work
to protect specific areas of the plant according to their facility’s
individual security plan. Each plant is tested in this manner every
three years.
These
force-on-force inspections have
been part of the NRC inspection regime since 1991, but they were
significantly beefed up and the frequency increased to every three years
after Sept. 11, 2001. They are designed to assess the plant’s ability
to defend itself against the conditions put forth under the “design
basis threat” or DBT. These inspections are in addition to the baseline
security inspections performed by the NRC’s regional inspectors and the
inspections done daily by the NRC’s resident inspectors. NRC security
experts routinely review options for further enhancements to the
program.
The
details of what happens during a force-on-force inspection are not
public due to the sensitive nature of security plans at the plants. If a
deficiency is found during an inspection, the NRC inspectors stay on
site until compensatory measures are put in place, and then the NRC
reviews the plant’s long-term plan to rectify the problem, and may issue
violations. These violations are only discussed in a general way with
the public.
The
“bad guys” are part of what is called the Composite Adversary Force and
they are contracted by the nuclear industry to perform these mock
attacks to NRC specifications. The plant knows the force-on-force will
occur at a specific date for safety and logistical purposes and to
provide time to coordinate two sets of security offices – one to
participate in the inspection and one to maintain the security posture
of the plant. The mock attacks are also preceded by significant planning
and on-site tabletop drills conducted by the NRC inspection team.
These
realistic and physically intensive exercises are but one vehicle by
which the NRC ensures the country’s nuclear power plants and Category I
fuel facilities are prepared and able to protect themselves. Meetings on
possible additional enhancements to this inspection program will be
announced in the future.
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