NUKE ALERT

What makes this story more than trivial is that Indian Point is thought to already be on terrorists’ radar because of its proximity to their favorite target, New York City. It has also had siren failures and radioactive water leaks.

Armed Guard Found Asleep at Nuke Plant
Jim Fitzgerald, August 27, 2007 (AP via Huffinton Post)

WHO
unnamed guard at the Indian Point nuclear power plant outside New York City; unnamed federal inspector; Neil Sheehan, spokesman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Jim Steets, spokesman, Indian Point owner Entergy Nuclear;

Looking across the Hudson River at the Indian Point facility. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The unnamed federal inspector found the unnamed gate guard asleep on duty. It took 2 minutes to rouse the somnolent protector.

WHEN
The nap took place in the afternoon of a shift that began at 6 am.

WHERE
- The Indian Point facility is in Buchanan, NY, 35 miles north of New York City, on the Hudson River.
- The guard was asleep alone in the 2nd of 3 security rings around the 2 Indian Point plants.

WHY
- Other security measures remained in place during the nap and tapes show there was no safety breach of the gate to the next ring where the reactors and spent-fuel pool are. Other measures to open the gate include the matching of a palm print and badge scan (in case any terrorists need to know).
- The inspection was specifically targeting security on the “backshift” (night /weekend).
- The guard, a 5-year veteran who carried a sidearm, was placed on administrative leave pending a review and drug/alcohol testing. Guards are rotated during shifts to counteract the tedium.

Even when the guards stay awake, they can't to tell you something safe to do with this. Nobody can. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Sheehan: ‘[There was no security breach] but that doesn't make it any less serious… [Entergy] needs to get to the bottom of this and make sure the staff knows this is unacceptable."