November 5, 2008
State will not pull security at Indian Point
By Abby Luby
State officials from Governor Paterson’s office and the division of military
and
naval affairs say that media reports last week stating budget cuts would
mean scaling
back security at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plants in Buchanan are
untrue.
“We haven’t made any formal announcements about minimizing security at
Indian Point. No final decision has been made,” said the governor’s
spokesperson,
Morgan Hook. “Any decision made on security at Indian Point will be made
only with
the intention of increasing security. It is not a budget consideration.”
Hook indicated that the stories about a security pull back were unfounded
but did
say there were discussions about changing the type of security around the
power plant.
Eric Durr, spokesman for the Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA)
said his organization evaluates security operations on an ongoing basis. The
DMNA
oversees security carried out by the Army, Air and Naval military, the
National Guard.
Durr said they were considering using what he calls a “pop-up” style
security. “That’s
where our security teams assist police by suddenly appearing on the scene.
The mission
at Indian Point in Buchanan continues to be evaluated, but nothing is
changed at this
time.”
Durr explained how security troops stationed in public places, like airports
and train
stations, would now be moving around.
“We decided it was an inefficient use of our troops and we reconfigured them
to
an entity that’s more flexible.”
Since September 11, 2001 nuclear power plants have been considered
vulnerable
targets for terrorists. A 2002 report by the National Research Council, “
Making The
Nation Safer: The Role Of Science And Technology In Countering Terrorism,”
claimed
“the potential for 9/11 type attacks on nuclear power plants is high.”
The report describes the risk as high with potential consequences “ranging
from
reactor shutdowns to core meltdowns with very large releases of
radioactivity.”
Since then about 84 National Guardsmen and 15 Naval Militia troops have been
assigned
to Indian Point. The state estimates that it costs them about $6.25
million.
Regulations issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also forced utility
owners to beef up security around the plants.
“We’ve made significant security enhancements since 911 and those will
remain
in place,” said Jim Steets of Entergy. “We’ve done multiple studies over
the years and
have complied to strict security requirements by the NRC, which don’t
include the
National Guard.”
Steets added that they also have protection from the river. “We can’t give
details,
but that protection from the river will remain.”
As to news about a decrease in security operations, Steets said “We haven’t
been
notified about the National Guard changing their plans.”
Ninety-five National Guardsmen at nuclear power plants in upstate Oswego and
Lake Ontario were pulled earlier this year by Gov. Paterson.
Phil Musegaas of the environment group Riverkeeper said if the state
eventually
pulls the national guard from Indian Point, the state should require Entergy
to make up
the difference.
“Entergy should be required to bolster their security and have a presence on
the
Hudson. A visual deterrent on the river is a huge concern for us.”
According to Hook the National Guard on the Indian Point property is a
visible
presence.
“But they don’t have the authority to arrest people in terms of security.
For the
future, any changes that are made at Indian Point will comply with the
federal standards
for nuclear facilities.” Hook said regardless of any future changes to the
security at Indian
Point, a 24 hour security force would be maintained. “The state is not going
to take action
that is going to affect the security at the plant.”
About 1200 people work at the plant, 200 of those man the guard towers and
patrol its 239 acres. Entergy has claimed that security is the largest
department at the
plant and that training three times a year includes long-range weapons and
regularly
scheduled "force-on-force" drills.
These soldiers who are engaged in state active duty mission are paid out of
state funds.
Soldiers engaged in federally adeated mission including those in Afghanistan
and Iraq
are financed by the federal government. Two totally natl guard. Sepatarte
state and
fed mission. The fed doesn’t affect state mission. Two dif funding some
soldiers
worked state active have been deployed over seas.
MORGAN: Natl guardman done have the autroity to arrest pepo in terms fo the
security
not like a ol force theyare a resence. Other secu there. Not the ony acting
security at
the facility. Any changes that are made the sec at the site will copaly what
the site
federal standards at nuk facilty be in copoaiance with those.
The stase is not going to atke any action goin to effect the security for
ip. Any actin that
is taken by stase. Will be having done through security evaluatin for that
site.
Willl there be 24 at th stie. Always be a taoseucity.
Steets: cnat give details. Have support form the ntal gurad. Additional
supprt from
the cost guard. We feel security paln we have in pace includes protedtion
from the
river will remain. We haven’t herad one way or the other.
We are requi to rpivide sec for the palnt from both the river and from the
around the rest
of the plant. Our security forces and capabilities will not be diminished if
the natl
guard leaves
alce.
The dube wont’ change unless not atipiating. We have tens of millsion of
solard since
911.done multiple studies over the years oes over the yrs other. There are
suctiyr
requirements that are the nrc requires a certain level of seucity h we have
to meet those
require wo the natal gurad. We cantake credit ofero the ntal guard seucityr
as part of
our seur opaln. W have a very security andefiensive paln not involed the
natl guard.
No dimineshiment in sec our sec pan reagarles of ntal guard.
We
Durr: and more oper instead team airport we now divided into companies of
soldiers
these compaies a variety of mission what they do - a pop up – if fmailiare w
Hercules
team concept - they will suddenly hafeily armed ocps show up a potential
attacker
where or when extra secure will materialz we do the same thing wih nyc.
Instead of
being staic u move around.
We work for the gov. Still doin the same We work for gov. my interim layers
of
command. Contually reevalutaion sec of ope made changes.
In 2007 four members congress, including Maurice Hinchey and John Hall
called for a
no-fly zone over Indian Point.
It used to be that in nyc a group o guys showed up a train sta. or path
terminal or
airport a basiclay on a guard post type op,
Operationally we don’t want t tell people. we continue the sec arrangemn in
nyc
more effective can’ comment on
You don’t want yr enemy to know where you have.
Can’t comment on have not yet implemented any change. We haven’t made ny
chages
yet. We ahvent’



---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: announce-unsubscribe@...
For additional commands, e-mail: announce-help@...
**************Finally, one site has it all: your friends, your email, your
favorite sites. Try the NEW AOL.com.
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000006)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]