Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

State will not Pull Indian Point Security

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

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.â€

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.â€

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.â€

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,â€

claimed

“the potential for 9/11 type attacks on nuclear power plants is high.â€

The report describes the risk as high with potential consequences “ranging

from

reactor shutdowns to core meltdowns with very large releases of

radioactivity.â€

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.â€

Steets added that they also have protection from the river. “We can’t give

details,

but that protection from the river will remain.â€

As to news about a decrease in security operations, Steets said “We haven’t

been

notified about the National Guard changing their plans.â€

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.â€

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.â€

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 , e-mail: announce-

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)

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...