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Nuclear Security: Action May Be Needed to Reassess the Security of NRC-Licensed Research Reactors

GAO-08-403 Published: Jan 31, 2008. Publicly Released: Feb 12, 2008.
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Highlights

There are 37 research reactors in the United States, mostly located on college campuses. Of these, 33 reactors are licensed and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Four are operated by the Department of Energy (DOE) and are located at three national laboratories. Although less powerful than commercial nuclear power reactors, research reactors may still be attractive targets for terrorists. As requested, GAO examined the (1) basis on which DOE and NRC established the security and emergency response requirements for DOE and NRC-licensed research reactors and (2) progress that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has made in converting U.S. research reactors that use highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. This report summarizes the findings of GAO's classified report on the security of research reactors (GAO-08-156C).

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission To better understand and prepare for the potential consequences of a terrorist attack on NRC-licensed research reactors, the Chairman of NRC should reassess the consequences of terrorist attacks on NRC-licensed research reactors using assumptions that better reflect a fuller range of outside expert opinion on the security of reactors and the capabilities of potential terrorist forces.
Closed – Not Implemented
The agency has stated that it will not implement this recommendation.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission If NRC finds that the consequences of an attack on a research reactor are more severe than previously estimated, the Chairman of NRC should ensure that the security requirements for research reactors are commensurate with the consequences of attacks.
Closed – Implemented
National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) was expanded to included NRC licensed research reactors. Through this effort, NNSA is taking action to improve the security of Nuclear Regulatory Commission - licensed research reactors.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission If NRC finds that the consequences of an attack on a research reactor are more severe than previously estimated, the Chairman of NRC should reexamine emergency response requirements to address whether evacuation plans should be included.
Closed – Not Implemented
The agency has stated that it will not implement this recommendation.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission If NRC finds that the consequences of an attack on a research reactor are more severe than previously estimated, the Chairman of NRC should require that first responders to alarms at research reactors be armed.
Closed – Implemented
Although NRC did not take action to address this recommendation, NNSA agreed with GAO that the lack of a requirement for an armed emergency first response at research reactors is a weakness that needed to be addressed. As a result, NNSA's Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) is now working on a case-by-case basis with the operators of NRC-licensed research reactor facilities and the emergency first responders to ensure that the first responder to alarms at research reactors are armed local police.

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Topics

Emergency responseEmergency response plansEmergency response proceduresEnergy conversionHazardous materials emergency responseLicensesNuclear facilitiesNuclear facility securityNuclear materialsNuclear reactorsPhysical securityRadioactive materialsRegulatory agenciesResearch programsRisk assessmentRisk managementSecurity regulationsSecurity threatsStrategic planningTerrorismTerroristsUraniumPolicies and procedures