That was the question posed by the Department of Energy’s Office of International Nuclear Security (INS) to USA Nuclear’s Douglas Abell. His answer was a 1-day training course for INS personnel stationed at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) on domestic nuclear power plant security.
The course equipped personnel with a broad understanding of security requirements, as well as key insights into how the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is implemented at domestic nuclear power plants. Throughout the course, Mr. Abell stressed the importance of maintaining an efficient domestic nuclear security regime that can effectively respond in a world of constantly evolving threats and risks. He further highlighted the differences between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy in their approach to regulation, design basis threat, and target set selection and development.
The goal of the course was to communicate the wide spectrum of threats to nuclear security – and the need to mitigate them. Course lessons were comprehensive in scope and topics covered included:
- NRC Design Basis Threat
- Composite Security Plans
- Target Sets
- Protective Strategies
- Response Plans
- Performance Evaluation Programs
- Access Authorization
- Search and Escort
- Alarm Station Operations
- Protected and Vital Area Access Controls
- Security Patrols
- Equipment Testing and Maintenance
- Compensatory Measures
- Event Reporting
- Unmanned Arial Systems (UAS)
- Cyber Security
- Safety/Security Interface
- NRC Inspections
USA Nuclear is a leading advisor on domestic nuclear power plant security, helping organizations expand both capability and capacity to establish and maintain rigorous security programs. Our team of specialists ensure our clients’ programs are designed, staffed, trained, qualified, and equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s threats, today.