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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaacfg0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
DOCUMENT RESUME
02162 - [A1332322]
An Unclassified Digest of a Classified Report Entitled
Commercial Nuclear Fuel Facilities Need Better Security.
PAEZ_77-40a. May 2, 1977.
Report by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Energy: Federal Role as a Proprietor of Eviergy
Resources (1603).
Contact: Energy and Minerals Div.
Budget Function: Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy:
Energy (305); National Defense: Atomic Energy Defense
Activities (053).
Organization Concerned: auclear Regulatory Commission; Enrrgy
Research and Development ',dministration.
Authority: Energy Reorganization Act of 1974.
The Energy Research and Development Administration
(ERDA) is responsible for safeguarding nuclear materials at its
facilities, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is
charged with guarding such materials at commercial facilities.
Security systems are based on material accountability and
physical security. Findings/conclusions: Problems in
accountability svstess resulted from technical limitationn in
measurements and time lags in accounting for missing materials.
The NRC could achieve more effectir- monitoring of materials if
it Changed procedures to apply to the individual material
balance areas rather than to an entire plant. Weaknesses in
physical security included testing of alarms, placing of guards,
personnel search and access control, and emergency lighting.
ERDA has more effective physical security regulations than does
NRC, but NPC has more detailed accountability regulations.
Security systems should be upgraded to protect against an
increased threat level, using the best features of each system.
Recommendations: Congress should amen& the Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974 to provide independent assessments of ERDA nuclear
facilities. Three alternatives for achieving this cbjective are
to give authority to NRC, to retain responsibility within ERDA,
or to authorize NRC to assess ERDA prograas periodically. Under
all alternatives, agencies should work together to achieve
optimum procedures. TPDA's oversight activities should be
insulated from developmental functiors by the appointing of the
heal of oversight activities for a specified term of office with
clear-cut responsibilities. (HTW)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaacfg0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)