Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials: Intelligence Summary 29 January - 4 February 2007

NRC Approves Final Rule Amending Security Requirements
29 January 2007

NRC NEWS (WASHINGTON) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a final rule, protected from public disclosure, that enhances security regulations governing the design basis threat. NRC Chairman, Dale Klein stated, “Overall we are taking a multi-faceted approach to security enhancements in the post 9/11 threat environment, and looking at how best to secure existing nuclear power plants and how to incorporate security enhancements into design features of new reactors.” This rule, which provides modes of attack, weaponry capabilities and intentions of adversary, is the first of several planned security-related rules to enhance protection of nuclear power plants. Other rules being developed include proposals to add security assessment requirements for new power reactor designs; proposals to revise and update requirements for physical protection at existing and new reactors; and proposals to establish how technical requirements, including those related to security, are to be examined in applications for NRC review of new reactor designs and operations. Source: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2007/07-012.html (Reliability: 8.5)