New York Utility Requests Permission for Guards to Carry More Heavy Duty Weapons

And some say more firepower may not make a difference. Entergy Nuclear has asked federal regulators to override New York States weapons law to allow Indian Point guards to carry heavier weaponry on the Buchanan nuclear site than standard commercial security guards. The request comes 10 years after terrorists flew a hijacked plane directly over the twin containment domes en route to a suicidal dive into the World Trade Center. In the interim, Entergy and the nuclear industry have waged a two-pronged effort: a public relations campaign with advertisements depicting a heavily armed, paramilitary protective force; and a lobbying campaign to dissuade the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from requiring the firms to have significantly more protection than average commercial guard forces. While the exact armaments used by guards at particular nuclear power plants vary and are not made public, federal regulators do not require operators to have a paramilitary force capable of defending against an armed assault using rocket propelled grenades and other heavy weaponry. And while the NRC came out with new security guidelines in 2003, these were largely voluntary. They were made mandatory in 2009, but Indian Point, and about 63 others around the country were granted waivers so they did not have to incur immediate expenses. The new request for heavier weapons was submitted April 27, and asks for federal Preemption Authority to overrule state gun laws. An NRC spokesman said New York State law prohibits the possession and use of handguns, rifles, shotguns, shortbarreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, machine guns, semi-automatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, the possession and use of which have been determined to be necessary at Indian Point for the protection of radioactive material or other property. The NRC has not rushed to grant the request. Instead, it sent a formal Request for Additional Information to the firm. According to a NRC spokeswoman, The September 28th letter simply informs Entergy that we need more information to complete our review, specifically, it asks Entergy to Describe the impact on Indian Points current physical protection program and capabilities, including response capabilities, if the NRC were to elect not to grant stand-alone pre-emption authority to Indian Point.