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Nuclear Power Plants
Related Resources (government documents and letters)
POGO Files
Allegations Against NRC Chairman Should be Viewed in Context
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory Jaczko has proven himself to be a public servant who takes his job regulating the nuclear industry seriously. Prior to his service as NRC Chair, Chairman Jaczko worked on Senator Harry Reid's staff, where he demonstrated a serious commitment to whistleblower protections.
December 14, 2011
POGO asks NRC to Release North Anna Nuclear Power Station Records
November 1, 2011
Podcast: Graveyard Shift: Why We Need to Change the Way We Store Spent Nuclear Fuel Despite containing some of the highest concentrations of radioactivity on the planet, the structures housing the majority of U.S. spent nuclear fuel--our nuclear graveyards so to speak--are designed to withstand little more than a bad thunderstorm. In this podcast, POGO staffers talk with Bob Alvarez, a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), about why this is a problem, and whether or not a disaster like the one at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant could happen in the U.S. Alvarez is the author of a new report on storage of spent nuclear fuel that was released by IPS with support from POGO.
July 19, 2011
POGO joins groups in supporting a petition to require proliferation assessments as part of the NRC licensing process
March 8, 2011
POGO Letter to NRC Recommending Additional Changes to Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
February 23, 2010
POGO Opposes Nomination Of William Magwood For NRC
February 8, 2010
NRC Needs Nuclear Power Regulators, Not Promoters
February 3, 2010
IG Found Former NRC Commissioner Merrifield Violated Ethics Laws
October 29, 2009
POGO Letter to Vice-President Biden Regarding IG Investigation of Jeffrey Merrifield
October 28, 2009
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko Regarding IG Investigation of Jeffrey Merrifield
October 28, 2009
POGO Opposes White House Nomination of Industry Cheerleader for Nuclear Regulatory Commission
October 15, 2009
POGO Opposes Nomination of William Magwood to NRC
October 14, 2009
Timeline of Former Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield’s NRC Employment and Post-Employment
September 3, 2009
POGO Says NRC FOIA Response Littered With Holes
July 13, 2009
POGO letter to NRC's Lisamarie Jarriel regarding the revision and strengthening of the Interim Allegation Program Guidance In addition to POGO's participation in a February 13, 2009 panel discussion, POGO provided written recommendations for changes to the NRC's Management Directive (MD) 8.8 regarding how allegations are handled. Most importantly, POGO recommends that the policy in MD 8.8 that directs the NRC to refer "as many allegations as possible to the licensee for action and response" be changed to "as few allegations as possible to the licensee for action and response."
March 6, 2009
POGO's Message to NRC: Security Culture Change Starts at the Top
February 4, 2009
NRC Stalemates on Security Improvements Highlight Need for Obama to Appoint New Commissioners
January 29, 2009
POGO Urges Commissioners to Listen to Staff Experts this time, not Industry Lobbyists, and Strengthen the DBT
January 14, 2009
With Small Fine, NRC Doesn't Rise To Hold EXELON Accountable
January 6, 2009
POGO letter supporting the nomination of George Mulley from the NRC Office of Inspector General for the NRC’s Edward McGaffigan Jr. Public Service Award
September 29, 2008
POGO's Public Comments on "Security Inspection and Security Performance Assessment of NRC Licensees"
September 11, 2008
NRC Inspector General Releases Investigative Report in Response to POGO’s Letter on Peach Bottom Incident
September 8, 2008
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Bodman regarding the lack of oversight of costs and quality at the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility
August 25, 2008
NRC Feeling Heat on Fire Safety
July 3, 2008
POGO Salutes NRC For Implementing New Work Rules; Security Guards No Longer to Work Excessive Hours
April 2, 2008
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Klein regarding his Senate testimony potentially defaming a nuclear security whistleblower
March 18, 2008
Whistleblower Demands NRC Commission Conducts Investigation of Security Violations and Its Campaign of Retaliation
December 10, 2007
POGO letter to NRC Chairman Klein regarding urgent need to implement overtime restrictions
October 31, 2007
POGO's Statement on NRC Investigation into Security Failures at Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant
October 10, 2007
POGO letter to NRC Chairman Klein regarding security at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant
September 28, 2007
Security Warnings Ignored at Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant; March 2007 Letter Warned of Sleeping Guards
September 28, 2007
Who Is Watching? NRC Investigative Team Announces Site Visit At Pennsylvania Nuclear Plant
September 21, 2007
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Klein concerning former NRC Commissioner Merrifield departure through the revolving door
September 14, 2007
POGO Urges NRC to Approve New Protections for Power Plant Security Officers; Long-overdue Rules Acknowledge the Role of Worker Fatigue The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) last week urged the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to implement a set of proposed rules that will help increase nuclear power plant safety.
March 12, 2007
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Dale Klein regarding the 10 CFR Part 26 Fitness-for-Duty Draft Final Rule
March 9, 2007
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Dale Klein Regarding the 10 CFR Part 26 Fitness-for-Duty Draft Final Rule
March 9, 2007
POGO Letter to NRC Chairman Dale Klein regarding security concerns at the Sequoyah nuclear power plant
August 24, 2006
Security Lapse at TVA’s Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant
August 15, 2006
Nuke Plants Not Protected Against RPGs
February 22, 2006
POGO's letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Diaz on the proposed Design Basis Threat (DBT)
February 21, 2006
POGO’s comments to the NRC about the guard fatigue issue
December 20, 2005
POGO senior investigator Peter Stockton’s presentation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission outlining the problems with guard fatigue
September 21, 2005
POGO Presentation to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Security Inspectors, Arlington, Texas
December 16, 2004
Nuclear Power Plant Lobbyists Shape Post-9/11 Security Tests
August 3, 2004
Speech by POGO's Executive Director Danielle Brian to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 2004 Regulatory Information Conference
March 11, 2004
Security Still Lax at Nuclear Power Plants: POGO
March 10, 2004
POGO opposed NRC's proposed regulation on fire protection at nuclear power plants Power plants are in noncompliance with fire protection regulations and the NRC is moving away from its long-held mandate requiring plants to upgrade fire protection systems.
January 26, 2004
GAO on Lax Nuclear Power Plant Security: Confirms Many of POGO's Findings
September 24, 2003
NRC Announces Improvements to Nuclear Power Plant Security
April 29, 2003
Speech by POGO's Danielle Brian, before the Regulatory Information Conference of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
April 16, 2003
Good Governments Groups Hail Tentative Approval of State of the Art Nuclear Safety Whistleblower Protection
April 2, 2003
Whistleblower from Indian Point Nuclear Plant: Security is Lax
December 9, 2002
Security Guards Comment on POGO's Report
September 30, 2002
Nuclear Power Plant Security: Voices From Inside the Fences Security guards at only one of four nuclear power plants are confident their plant could defeat a terrorist attack, according to interviews conducted by POGO for this report. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the utilities operating nuclear power plants. The utilities generally subcontract with private guard companies for security services. The security guards say morale is currently very low and that they are under-manned, under-equipped, under-trained, and underpaid. More than 20 security guards protecting 24 nuclear reactors (located at 13 plants) were interviewed during POGO's investigation into nuclear plant security. POGO offers 29 recommendations to toughen security at the nuclear power plants.
September 12, 2002
Testimony of POGO's Danielle Brian, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
June 5, 2002
Statement of John Middlemiss and James Howard, former security guards at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant Both Middlemiss and Howard, former guards at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, resigned in protest after their continued attempts to resolve security problems were ignored.
March 29, 2002
Who the Hell is Regulating Who? The NRC's Abdication of Responsibility After a two-year investigation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), POGO's findings proved that for nearly twenty years the NRC has acquiesced to the nuclear industry by allowing significant safety problems to fester for years before they are actually, if ever, fixed. The NRC had not verified 389 high priority safety improvements that the operators claim to have fixed, or implemented, at every nuclear power plant in the United States. Additionally, there were 76 "high priority" safety improvements that remained unimplemented at a minimum of 62 different nuclear plants - some of which were "resolved" by the NRC as far back as 1978.
September 1, 1996
Related Resources
NRC Chair Jaczko responds to POGO's request for action in response to the IG investigation of Merrifield
Gregory B. Jaczko, Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
November 30, 2009
Letter to POGO from NRC regarding POGO's March 5, 2008 letter
Bruce S. Mallett, Deputy Executive Director for Reactor and Preparedness Programs, Office of the Executive Director for Operations, NRC
April 22, 2008
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Fitness for Duty Programs; Final Rule
, Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 62), Rules and Regulations, Page 16965-17014. DOCID:fr31mr08-14
March 31, 2008
NRC's Richard Urban letter to Peter Stockton regarding Peach Bottom security
Richard Urban, Senior Allegation Coordinator, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
February 26, 2008
Commissioner Dale Klein's response to POGO's October 31, 2007 letter
Commissioner Dale Klein, Nuclear Regulatory Commission - NRC
December 17, 2007
Letter from NNSA Chief, Defense Nuclear Security William Desmond to POGO requesting input on the issue of federalizing nuclear weapons complex security
NRC Chairman, Dale Klein,
November 28, 2007
Letter to NRC Region I Administrator Samuel Collins from UCS
David Lochbaum, Director of Nuclear Safety , Union of Concerned Scientist (UCS)
November 9, 2007
Safety and Security of Commecial Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage: Public Report
, National Academy of Sciences
April 6, 2006
Efforts Made To Upgrade Security, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Design Basis Threat Process Should be Improved
Report: (GAO-06-388), Government Accountability Office (GAO)
March 1, 2006
NRC response to POGO concerns regarding Research and Test Reactors, special nuclear materials in RTRs, and irradiators
Glenn M. Tracy, Director, Division of Nuclear Security, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
March 3, 2005
NRC response to POGO's concerns about security of NRC-regulated facilities
Gregory Owalina, Senior Allegations Coordinator, Plant Support Branch, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
November 9, 2004
NRC Letter to POGO regarding Nuclear Energy Institute's decision to hire Wackenhut
Luis Reyes, Executive Director for Operations, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
September 30, 2004
Vulnerability of nuclear power plant spent fuel pools to terrorist attack
Peter D.H. Stockton, Project On Government Oversight (POGO)
May 10, 2004
Reps. Markey & Dingell send letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Committee on Energy & Commerce
March 4, 2004
Representatives Nita Lowey and Elliot Engel call on Nuclear Regulatory Commission to improve security in response to POGO's reporting on Indian Point power plant
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives
February 24, 2004
NRC Commissioner Nils J. Diaz Letter responding to POGO's concerns about nuclear power plant security.
Nils J. Diaz, Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
February 6, 2004
NRC announces a ublic hearing on the Worker Fatigue Rule
Chris Nolan, Acting Chief, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
January 10, 2003
Senator Clinton Calls on Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Review Security Guard Issues
Senator Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senate
December 10, 2002
Testimony of David Orrik, NRC Reactor Security Specialist
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April 11, 2002
POGO in the News
Building a Nuclear Power Plant on a Fault Still Not a Great Idea, Kate Sheppard, Mother Jones, November 3, 2011
Nuclear Agency Is Criticized as Too Close to Its Industry, Tom Zeller Jr., The New York Times, May 7, 2011
Senate confirms three nuclear power regulators, By Ben Geman, The Hill, March 19, 2010
Obama nuke commission choice tells Senate he’s independent, By Ben Geman, The Hill, February 9, 2010
Metldown, USA: Nuclear Drive Trumps Safety Risks & High Costs, By Art Levine, Truthout.org, January 6, 2010
Concerns Raised Over Terrorism Threat to Nuclear Plants, , Global Security Newswire By The Journal Group, November 12, 2009
The threat of nuclear meltdown, By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com, November 12, 2009
Coziness between regulators and business laid bare, By Timothy Carney, The Washington Examiner, October 30, 2009
Nuclear regulator broke rules, says inspector general, By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, October 29, 2009
Bush Nuclear Regulator Contacted Potential Employers With Business Before Agency, By Zachary Roth, Talking Points Memo, October 29, 2009
Boos as Obama taps Yucca supporter, By Stephanie Tavares, Las Vegas Sun, October 21, 2009
Obama's Radioactive Regulator: Why did the White House pick a cheerleader for nuclear energy to oversee the industry?, By Kate Sheppard, Mother Jones, October 20, 2009
TVA whistle-blowers contacted by feds, By Anne Paine, The Tennessean, September 26, 2009
POGO Points To NRC Ethics Probe Into Ex-Commissioner, By George Lobenz, Energy Daily, July 14, 2009
NRC Deadlocks On Tougher Nuke Security Standard, By Jeff Beattie, Energy Daily, February 5, 2009
Sleeping Security Guards Cost Nuclear Plant $65,000, By Angela Hill , The Blotter from Brian Ross, ABC News (Online), January 8, 2009
TVA guard falsified records, By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free , January 7, 2009
Feds Fine Nuke Plant Operator $65K over Guard Naps, , The Associated Press, January 7, 2009
TVA whistle-blowers contacted by feds, By Anne Paine, The Tennessean, September 21, 2008
NRC broke rules in plant inquiry, report says, By Gary Lenton, The Patriot-News, September 9, 2008
Tennessee Valley Authority cuts contract for nuclear security, By Dave Flessner, Chattanooga Times Free Press, September 3, 2008
POGO praises NRC work at MOX plant, , Inside NRC, September 1, 2008
The Nuclear Option, By Judith Lewis, Mother Jones - May/June 2008 Issue, May 1, 2008
The Nuclear Option, by Judith Lewis, Mother Jones - May/June 2008 Issue, May 1, 2008
What Nuclear Renaissance?, By Christian Parenti, The Nation [This article appeared in the May 12, 2008 edition of The Nation.], April 24, 2008
Inside The Beltway, By John McCaslin, The Washington Times, April 4, 2008
Executive Resigns in Storm Over Sleeping Guards, By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, January 10, 2008
Video of Sleeping Guards Shakes Nuclear Industry, Sight of Guards Asleep Shakes Industry, By Steven Mufson, Washington Post, January 4, 2008
Nuclear plants' security is fired , By Dave Carpenter, Associated Press, Tulsa World, December 15, 2007
Exelon fires Wackenhut as nuclear plant security after incidents, , The Canadian Press, December 14, 2007
NRC Strengthening Whistle Blower Protections, , Power Market Today (by Intelligence Press) , November 15, 2007
Jaczko calls for changes in process for responding to allegations, By Daniel Horner, Inside NRC (by Platts), November 12, 2007
Follow-up inspection, IG investigation of Peach Bottom security under way, by Steven Dolley and Daniel Horner, Inside NRC (by Platts), November 12, 2007
Asleep At The Power Plant, Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News, November 2, 2007
Peach Bottom whistle-blower fired, by Matthew Santoni, The Examiner, November 1, 2007
Peach Bottom whistleblower says guards' napping is widespread problem, by Steven Dolley , Inside NRC, October 29, 2007
Our view on nuclear security: Asleep on the job; Guards, owners and regulators all snooze, leaving plants vulnerable., Editorial Board, USA Today, October 11, 2007
Sleeping guards at Peach Bottom prompt investigation by nuclear regulators, by Michael Santoni, Examiner.com, October 5, 2007
Wackenhut nuclear security reported asleep at the switch, by Jo-Ann Mort, Online Journal, September 26, 2007
Nuclear Utilities Redefine One Word to Bulldoze for New Plants, by Elliot Blair Smith, BloombergNews.com,, September 25, 2007
Wackenhut Nuclear Security Reported Asleep At Peach Bottom Switch, , The Post Chronicle, September 21, 2007
College nukes a 'disaster' next door? How the rules don't apply to the reactor in your city, By Beverly Ford, Correspondent, BostonNow.com, May 14, 2007
Overtime bears risk, guards at TMI fear, By Garry Lenton, Patriot-News, February 5, 2007
Analysis: Nuke security B+ hard to qualify, By Ben Lando, United Press International, September 22, 2006
Security at nuke plants still debated, By Kathy Stevens, York Dispatch, September 13, 2006
Security for Plymouth nuclear plant to be brought in house, , The Boston Globe, August 30, 2006
Security shift at Pilgrim Guards' employer agrees to change, By Robert Knox, The Boston Globe, August 24, 2006
Lapse allows guns into Tennessee nuke plant, By Ben Lando and Donna Borak, United Press International (UPI), August 17, 2006
Bush: More nuclear power will reduce greenhouse gas, By Tabassum Zakaria , Reuters, May 24, 2006
Responsibility for Defending Nuclear Plants Is Debated, By Matthew L. Wald , The New York Times, April 5, 2006
Official at nuclear power station alleges retaliation, By Bryan Bender, Boston Globe, March 1, 2006
Report Profiles Nuclear-Plant Attackers, , Newsmax.com Wires, February 23, 2006
Loose Nukes on Main Street, With Brian Ross, ABC News Nightline, October 12, 2005
Securing the Reactors, Nils Diaz, NRC Chairman, Time Magazine, July 11, 2005
Are These Towers Safe?, By Mark Thompson, Time Magazine, June 20, 2005
Are ‘rent-a-cops’ threatening security? Experts: guards are ill-trained, ill-equipped to handle threats, By Brock N. Meeks, MSNBC, March 9, 2005
America ’s Security Risks: Nuclear Power Plants, With Bill Tucker, CNN, February 9, 2005
Nuclear Plant Safety after 9/11, With David Brancaccio , PBS Now, January 14, 2005
Conflict of interest may hurt nuke security, With Lisa Meyers, NBC Nightly News, September 8, 2004
Battle Swirls On Security At A-Plants, By Matthew L. Wald, The New York Times, August 6, 2004
Nuclear Security Decisions Are Shrouded in Secrecy; Agency Withholds Unclassified Information, By R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, March 29, 2004
Whistling in the Dark, By Danielle Brian, TomPaine.com, October 9, 2003
Flaws Found In Nuke Safety Drills, Associated Press, CBS News, September 25, 2003
Group Says Test of Nuclear Plant's Security Was Too Easy, By Matt Wald, New York Times, September 16, 2003
Nuclear plant security is under the gun, By Greg Gordon, Star Tribune, May 11, 2003
Nuke plants avoid costly new edicts, By Jim Morris, Dallas Morning News, May 4, 2003
China Syndrome 2003, By Rene Chun, Playboy Magazine, May 1, 2003
Guards at Nuclear Plants Feel Swamped By Overtime Deluge in the Wake of 9/11 , By Matthew L. Wald, New York Times, October 20, 2002
Inside the White House Advisory Group: Influential Business Leaders, Former Officials, Sit at the Homeland Security Table, By Christopher Logan, Congressional Quarterly, October 18, 2002
Government Reviews Security at Potential Terror Targets, With John Gibson, The Big Story with John Gibson, Fox News, October 11, 2002
Nuclear Plant Safeguards, Editorial, Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2002
Nuke Nightmare: Homeland Security not inspiring confidence, Editorial, Houston Chronicle, September 14, 2002
Time Special Report: How Safe Now?, By Romesh Ratnesar, Time Magazine, May 27, 2002
Time: Special Report: How Safe Are We Now?, By Romesh Ratnesar, Time Magazine, May 27, 2002
