[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3429-S3430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NUCLEAR SECURITY OFFICERS

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise to recognize 
the brave and patriotic security officers who protect the Seabrook 
Nuclear Power Station in my State of New Hampshire. Recently, 
allegations have been made that have caused great concern to these 
highly trained professions. The Local 501 Security, Police and Fire 
Professionals of America have written a letter to me and provided a 
position paper representing their views of security at Seabrook Station 
and responding to the issues raised by others. One particular part of 
the position paper caught my attention as it exemplifies the character 
of the brave men and women who serve and protect our nuclear power 
plants. It reads,

       The last thing that you should know about us is that we are 
     your family, your friends and your neighbors. Most of us live 
     within 20 miles of the plant. We have families and children 
     of our own. Everything that we have worked so hard for and 
     love is in close proximity to this plant. We are not cowards 
     and will not run. God forbid the day ever comes, but if it 
     does, we will stay and fight for you and for our friends and 
     families.

  I want to thank the President of Local 501, Clifford Bullock, and all 
of the professionals who are members of Local 501 for providing their 
well-informed perspective on security at Seabrook Station. Most 
importantly, Mr. President, I want to thank them for their bravery and 
commitment to protecting all of us--they are true patriots. I ask that 
the letter and position paper of Local 501 be printed in the 
Congressional Record.

                                                   April 24, 2002.
     The Hon. Robert Smith,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Smith: We understand from news media reports 
     that two former security officers from Seabrook Station are 
     planning to meet with various Congressional staff members to 
     discuss concerns they have about their service at Seabrook.
       As the Senator from New Hampshire and the ranking member of 
     the Environment and Public Works Committee, we believe you 
     would be interested in our position on the issues raised by 
     the former officers. The attached paper represents the 
     position of Local 501 of the Security, Police and Fire 
     Professionals of America. We feel that it is especially 
     important for you and your colleagues to have a full 
     perspective on these issues.
       We would be pleased to provide any additional information 
     or respond to any other questions you may have.
       Thank you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,

                                             Clifford Bullock,

                            President, Local 501, Security, Police
     and Fire Professionals of America.
                                  ____


  Statement on Security at Seabrook Station From Security, Police and 
        Fire Professionals of America--Local 501--April 23, 2002

       Since the tragic events of September 11, the nation has 
     been focused on its security like never before. The public 
     and media have been quick to both praise and criticize the 
     men and women tasked with keeping us safe from harm. 
     Recently, light has been shed on a relatively unknown part of 
     America's critical infrastructure; the protection of our 
     nation's commercial nuclear power reactors. It seems that 
     since September 11, hardly a week goes by that there is not a 
     story in the news regarding the possibility of attacks 
     against a nuclear power plant. This increased media attention 
     has produced two results. It has shown us that prior to 
     September 11, most people in this country were unaware of the 
     importance of homeland security. It has also shown us that in 
     this time of national uncertainty, anyone appearing on 
     television, regardless of his or her background, education or 
     experience, may be considered a ``security expert''.
       In recent weeks, former newly hired security officers have 
     expressed their perception that the security at the Seabrook 
     Nuclear Power Station is inadequate. We would like the public 
     to know that the concerns expressed by these individuals had 
     been bought to the attention of management, and that they 
     were being evaluated and any discrepancies addressed. The 
     former officers' main area of concern centered on the initial 
     training they received when they were hired in November 2001. 
     They expressed discontent with the quality and quantity of 
     tactical and weapons training they received during the six 
     weeks of initial classroom and practical instruction. In an 
     open letter to the public, one of the former officers stated 
     that he fired only 96 rounds at the range before being 
     declared ``proficient'' with his weapon. What he failed to 
     disclose was that after firing 96 practice rounds, he then 
     fired 120 rounds in order to qualify with his weapon using a 
     state of New Hampshire and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
     Commission-certified course of fire. After qualification came 
     familiarization training on a stress-fire course and low-
     light firing. Only after successful completion of this 
     training (300-350 rounds) is any officer declared 
     ``proficient'' with his or her weapon. Admittedly, we would 
     all like more time to practice with our weapons, not only 
     because we want to hone our skills, but also because we enjoy 
     it and are very good at it.
       The strategic doctrine of nuclear power facilities is not 
     designed to be as extensive as that of a SWAT team or a 
     Special Forces branch of the military. We are by our very 
     nature, defensive, not offensive. During our initial training 
     we spend approximately four days learning general and site-
     specific tactics. This training, coupled with an intimate 
     knowledge of the plant, ongoing training and drills and a 
     fair measure of common sense prepares an individual to 
     protect this plant in the event of an attack.
       Although for obvious reasons we cannot disclose the 
     specifics of our tactical strategy, we want the public to 
     know that it has been validated numerous times by both 
     industry and military experts and that, as the people who 
     will employ it into actual use, we are confident that it is 
     sound.
       On September 11, due to our heightened state of alert, we 
     stopped conducting tactical training drills on shift. Drills, 
     though, are an essential part of the training process, and in 
     January of this year, we began to once again practice our 
     defensive strategy. The resumption of drills coincided with 
     the few weeks that the former officers actually worked on 
     shift. In their statements, they criticized our ability to 
     perform our jobs of protecting this plant and the public from 
     a terrorist attack based upon what they saw. Drills are 
     performed as ``force on force'' exercises, meaning that a 
     mock adversary team actually ``attacks'' the on-shift 
     security officers. Explosions, gunfire and ``kills'' are 
     simulated, and after the drills are complete, a critique is 
     completed and feedback given not only to those involved, but 
     also to the officers who did not participate in the drills. A 
     mistake or failure during a drill may serve to save that 
     person's life during an actual attack on the plant. It should 
     be noted that sometimes the defending officers do not win the 
     the drills. This is not a reflection of our abilities or 
     aptitude, but rather of the difficulty of the exercises that 
     are conducted. Adversary teams consist of well-trained 
     officers and supervisors who are not only familiar with every 
     square inch of the facility, but are also experts on our 
     tactical and defensive strategy and can predict every 
     movement of the defenders. Drills are meant to be difficult 
     in order to reinforce the skills of the officers involved. 
     With the odds stacked so far in favor of the adversaries, the 
     public should take solace in the fact that we actually win 
     many more drills than we lose. Initial training is only one 
     step in the ongoing development of the skills and experience 
     required to protect the public from the danger of a terrorist 
     attack on our facility.
       There was one last concern brought forth by these 
     individuals that we wish to address as being not only 
     erroneous, but also as nothing short of a personal attack on 
     the hard-working men and women of the security staff at 
     Seabrook Station. Our former co-workers have stated that in 
     the event of an actual attack, the majority of officers would 
     use their weapons to flee the plant. We want to state for the 
     record that the dedication and integrity of the security 
     force at Seabrook is unimpeachable.
       Since September 11, despite long hours and few days off, no 
     officer who was here prior to the terrorist attacks, has 
     resigned or been terminated. Those of us who were here before 
     have stayed, not because we cannot find other jobs, but 
     because we are dedicated to what we do.
       For those of you who do not know us, please allow us to 
     introduce ourselves. We are educated, experienced and hard-
     working individuals. Thirty percent of us have college 
     degrees. Eighty percent have prior military, law enforcement 
     or security experience. On average we are 38 years old, and 
     have worked as security officers at Seabrook Station for over 
     eight years. Since September 11, we have worked roughly 60 
     hours per week. We know the dangers inherent in our work; we 
     know the possibility of a terrorist attack on a U.S. nuclear 
     power plant. Every day that we drive through the gate, we 
     know that we are putting our lives at risk to protect the 
     public, yet we continue to come.
       The last thing that you should know about us is that we are 
     your family, your friends and your neighbors. Most of us live 
     within 20 miles of the plant. We have families and children 
     of our own. Everything that we have

[[Page S3430]]

     worked so hard for and love is in close proximity to this 
     plant. We are not cowards and we will not run. God forbid the 
     day ever comes, but if it does, we will stay and fight for 
     you and for our friends and families.
       Members of the public should be confident that the security 
     of Seabrook Station is tight, and will get tighter in the 
     months ahead. We will be the first to admit that we are not 
     perfect. As in any organization, we have areas in need of 
     improvement. We have been addressing these areas and together 
     with management, continue to strive towards making these 
     improvements a reality. In the meantime, we will continue to 
     be here to protect the public from the threat of radiological 
     sabotage, just as we have been since well before September 
     11, 2001.

                                             Clifford Bullock,

                            President, Local 501--Security, Police
     and Fire Professionals of America.

                          ____________________