January 7, 2009

By Ad Crable

Lancaster Newspapers - Lancaster, PA

Exelon Energy says it will pay a $65,000 fine for a sleeping-on-the-job incident involving security guards at the Peach Bottom nuclear plant.

The scandal, brought to light by a whistleblower from Lancaster County, forced a shake-up of security measures at Exelon's fleet of 10 nuclear reactors, including Three Mile Island, and embarrassed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The federal oversight agency admitted it did not initially fully pursue allegations by whistleblower Kerry Beal, a Peach Bottom guard who videotaped other guards sleeping on the job.

The southern Lancaster County man eventually went to the media in 2007 with his video, which showed as many as three guards sleeping at one time in an off-duty room. In all, as many as 10 guards were videotaped sleeping.

Exelon has fired its security contractor, Florida-based Wackenhut Corp., at Peach Bottom, TMI and eight other plants, in favor of in-house security forces.

Beal was not rehired by Exelon when it created the new force.

On Tuesday, the NRC wrapped up its investigation into the inattentive-to-duty case at Peach Bottom by proposing the $65,000 fine for multiple security breaches rated as "low to moderate safety significance."

The incidents occurred in a plant "ready room" where guards are allowed to relax, read, study and eat, but not sleep.

The NRC scolded multiple security guards for not reporting the incidents, but ultimately said Exelon must be held accountable for failing to report "aberrant behavior."

Exelon was given credit for "prompt and comprehensive corrective actions" once the violations were identified.

Peach Bottom was scandalized and shut down for a period in 1987 when control room operators were found playing video games.

Exelon spokeswoman Beth Archer said Tuesday that the utility with the nation's largest fleet of nuclear rectors will pay the fine. She said plant security has improved since the Peach Bottom incidents.

That's true, says Eric Epstein of Three Mile Island Alert, a group that monitors area nuclear plants.

"The new system isn't perfect, but it's a marked improvement," Epstein said today.

He was less complimentary about the NRC's role in investigating the Peach Bottom lapses.

"The security guard was sending up flares," Epstein said of Beal. "The NRC ignored him until a film clip aired on national television. The NRC was embarrassed into action."

Last March, a security officer at TMI was suspended from duty after being found "inattentive" in a rooftop enclosure.

Last February, after a routine security inspection, the NRC noted a problem "of moderate to serious significance." The NRC said federal rules prohibit the disclosure of nuclear plant security deficiencies.

The matter is still under review. An NRC spokeswoman said it does not involve sleeping or inattentiveness by plant guards.

www.standeyo.com/NEWS/09_USA/090107.nuke.plant.sleeping.fine.html