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For Immediate
Release
10/17/07
Contact:
Fran Cleaver - Office of Senator Tomlinson
(717) 787-5072 – Harrisburg
Brian Grove – Office of Senator Baker
(717) 787-7428 – Harrisburg
(570) 675-3931 – Dallas
 Hearing (running time 2 hours, 20
minutes)
Senators Tomlinson and Baker Chair Joint
Hearing on Nuclear Energy and Emergency Preparedness at Pennsylvania's Five
Nuclear Plants
HARRISBURG – Senator Tommy Tomlinson (R-6) and Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) held
an informational hearing of the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional
Licensure and Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committees to hear
testimony on nuclear energy and emergency management. The hearing was held from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in Hearing Room, G-1, of the North Office Building in
Harrisburg.
The Committee's received testimony regarding Pennsylvania's current and
future use of nuclear energy, emergency preparedness at Pennsylvania's five
existing nuclear plants, and the role of federal and state entities in
regulating the Commonwealth's nuclear industry. Nuclear energy currently
accounts for 35% of all energy generation in Pennsylvania and 20% of the
national energy generation.
Testimony was received from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Marsha
Gamberoni, Director, Division of Reactor Safety, US NRC Region I; Marjorie
McLaughlin, State Liaison Officer, US NRC Region I), Pennsylvania's Private
Nuclear Providers (Exelon – James R. Meister, VP, Operations & Support; First
Energy – Joseph Hagan, President & CNO; and PPL – Bryce Shriver, President), and
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (Thomas K. Fidler, Deputy
Secretary of Waste, Air, & Radiation Management) and Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency (General Robert P. French, Director.)
The meeting also addressed public concerns that have emerged in recent months
following the publicized release of a videotape in late September showing
contracted security staff sleeping in the watch room at Peach Bottom Nuclear
facility.
"By their design, construction, and management, nuclear facilities are
intended to prevent the radiological releases in the event of natural disasters,
operational accidents, or terrorist acts," said Senator Baker, chair of the
Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Since the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, nationally, the nuclear industry has
spent a reported $1.5b on security and infrastructure enhancements to thwart
outside intrusions. "However, when security breaches do occur at nuclear
facilities, public confidence in nuclear energy, generally, and in the
robustness of the safety protections, specifically, takes a hit. At these
times, it is appropriate that we step back and take stock ensuring that these
critical infrastructures are properly and appropriately secured."
Following intensive investigations by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and
the plant operator, Exelon, officials determined that watch room conditions were
not conducive to officer attentiveness. Exelon has since terminated its contract
with Wackenhut at the Peach Bottom facility and is evaluating their continued
use at their other nuclear facilities.
"Clearly, any discussion of the Commonwealth's future
energy picture must consider the role that nuclear will play
given that it currently accounts for over one-third of all
electrical generation." said Senator Tomlinson, chair of the
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.
"That being said, Pennsylvania's existing nuclear facilities
and any further expansion of nuclear must be scrutinized
carefully to ensure that public safety, homeland security,
and environmental concerns are the paramount concern."
Additional Information:
Improving Emergency
Preparedness
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