Markey slams nuclear agency over its handling of Pilgrim security breach

http://www.patriotledger.com/business/x1840139390/Markey-slams-nuclear-agency-over-its-handling-of-Pilgrim-security-breach

Markey slams nuclear agency over its handling of Pilgrim security breach

By Jon Chesto
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Mar 10, 2011 @ 05:30 AM

PLYMOUTH — U.S. Rep. Edward Markey is criticizing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for failing to disclose details about a security issue that was discovered at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant last fall.

Markey sent a letter to NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko last week that asked a series of questions about the unspecified security “deficiency.” Most notably, Markey asked why the federal agency hasn’t released details regarding the incident to the public.

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But Markey, in his letter, asked what kind of consequences Entergy will face for this most recent violation, and whether the NRC will impose higher penalties considering there have been 11 other security-related violations at Pilgrim since 2006. Markey also wants to know whether the agency has identified similar violations at other nuclear power plants.

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“If, in fact, whatever the security issue was has been fixed, then why can’t we hear it?” she said. “If the public is never allowed to know what the problem was after it has been fixed, what assurance do we have that it’s actually been fixed?”