Are nuclear power plants adequately protected?
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon illustrated the deadly intentions and abilities of modern terrorist groups. These attacks also brought to surface long-standing concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. nuclear installations to possible terrorist attacks. The United States is home to 103 nuclear power plants located in 31 states, generating about 20% the nation’s electricity. There are an additional 14 decommissioned plants, some of which still contain radioactive material. Some of these plants are located near large urban population centers. Experts consider U.S. nuclear reactors to be “high-value targets” for a terrorist determined to inflict large-scale death and destruction in the country. Since the September 11 attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and other federal and state offices have received a number of threats or scares concerning U.S. nuclear power plants. The Air National Guard h
