A federal investigation into sleeping security guards at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station was completed with no more “alarming” safety discoveries, a spokeswoman said.
“This was a specific investigation to look at security,” said Diane Screnci, the NRC spokeswoman. “This inspection was conducted ? to allow us to understand whether members of the security system feel comfortable reporting problems.”
Six inspectors from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigated during the week of March 24 employees? freedom to report safety problems at the plant, which is seven miles into Pennsylvania from Harford County. The NRC had initially come under fire for turning over its investigation of sleeping guards to plant managers accused of ignoring the problem.
The NRC has insisted security at the plant was never compromised, but former Clinton-era Energy Department adviser Robert Alvarez told The Examiner that an accident at Peach Bottom “could create a contaminated area four times the size of the Chernobyl disaster.”
Officials at Peach Bottom, which is operated by Exelon Generation Co. and licensed by the NRC, have conducted surveys of employees to determine how free they feel to report safety problems.
Whistle-blower Kerry Beal last year sparked the NRC?s probe after noticing guards sleeping in ready rooms and security towers. He reported it to his superiors at the plant and had a former security supervisor write to the NRC, but, disappointed with the response he received, he secretly videotaped the sleeping guards and sent the footage to a TV station.
The NRC is to meet with plant officials Tuesday to discuss their findings, but Screnci said they were “not alarming.” She declined to elaborate because of next week?s meeting.
“We have never seen one incident have such a ripple effect throughout the entire industry and regulatory environment,” said Peter Stockton, an investigator for the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.
