|
Security of Nuclear Material
A type of discarded material is of major concern to the world today, this martial is nuclear waste. And believe it or not, more than seventy thousand pounds of it will be stored within the Yucca Mountain dump in Nevada by the year 2015. Waste has been a major concern, since the dawn of the nuclear age. It does not only represent a potential hazard for environmental and health reasons, but terrorists can utilize it as a weapon to devastate lives and properties of millions of people.
A potential terrorist attack can be successfully executed using nuclear energy. The same effects as a radiological bomb can be achieved by crashing a plane into a nuclear power plant, not to mention that the reactor core could melt down and cause unimagined disasters. The ability to kill hundreds of thousands of people could be easily given to terrorists by disregarding the issue of unauthorized access to highly sensitive materials.
The reason why waste is such a growing concern is because it could be used to build a dirty bomb or any other weapon of mass destruction. This explosive device would be made up of by-products from nuclear reactors combined with traditional exploding devices. Deadly radioactive materials will fill the air inciting disaster as soon as that bomb is set off.
Effective administration of nuclear power is crucial to protecting the lives of innocent individuals. Nuclear energy has a strong presence now and it will continue to be so in the future as well especially as the world finds itself in the midst of an energy calamity.
About twenty percent of the nation's electricity is being produced by nuclear power especially with the numerous nuclear power reactors currently licensed to operate in the United States.
According the Center for Defense Information, the United States holds radioactive waste at more than seventy regions in more than thirty states.
However, the main problem does not only revolve around creating and storing waste. Amongst the major concerns is transportation. This immense amount of nuclear waste travels across the country and even across large bodies of water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy has recently estimated that it would require more than 100,000 vehicles to move all the waste to the mountains of Nevada. And more than sixty accidents are expected to occur while doing so.
After realizing these concerns the nuclear market has readjusted its list of priorities. For instance, a year before the incidents of 9-11, the Congress established the Nuclear National Security Administration which supervises our supply of nuclear weapons and works to decrease the threat of overseas weapons.
Since Sept. 11, the public's concern about terrorism and nuclear power has elevated. As professionals focus on proper protection and treatment nuclear security continues to advance. This will ultimately keep nuclear facilities locked down and waste out of the hands of evil-doersAdministrating the Property
Security nuclear property mainly depends on carrying out a comprehensive plan that protects critical material from potential risks from several aspects. And that is the reason why a combination of physical and electronic systems has been deployed to achieve this goal. Preventing unauthorized access is a key step towards making sure that the entire facility is a protected facility. However, understanding the building compromises the first step.
Recognizing the end user is important just like any other high security premises. In addition, a threat evaluation must be completed to know what the risks are before a system can be deployed. In order to resolve current problems and address each security need, detailed systems can be established. The ability and feature of integration between many different types of security makes the new electronic systems particularly important, not to mention that operators are able to see more and as technology continues to progress.
According to the executive vice president of the Norment Security Group, people should not be amazed at the fact that almost every access point is supervised and observed by the security system. The surveillance system as well as the security personnel can easily see any breach, and any attempted access whether it be a valid access or an invalid attempt.
The vice president of the company along with another parent company has had a long history in setting up systems for facility management using many advanced technologies. He also points out that systems have to initially be protected from the outdoors. The first barrier consists of a mixture of controlled access points, walls, and fences. A fiber-optic sensing control system makes up one of the best technologies being used to protect a property. Not to mention that the technology is impermeable to weather and temperature due to its ability to adapt to any physical settings. Protection against false alarms is also provided by this system.
The security officials of the facility strongly believe that when the alarm rings this time it will not be a nuisance alarm; it will be the real thing. It will most probably be someone is attempting to cut through or climb a fence or are attempting to breach a protected access point.
The security personnel and other operators are able to know where the threat is coming from and activate physical barriers from their control centers by utilizing the fiber-optic technology provided for them. The whole security of the complex is maintained by this type of security incorporation. A program logic control is used to link up multiple systems together. This method will enable security operatives of utilizing a number of different technologies such as CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, communication and lighting systems along with the perimeter recognition technologies.
Surveying a nuclear facility becomes more about how much information an operative has at hand, rather than how to acquire that information in the first place by simply designing an all-inclusive security interface. Access to highly sensitive areas is granted only to staff and security officers are allowed and an audit trail is always in position for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the as well staff. However that fact of the matter is that that access is difficult to attain.
According to the security officials of the facility it's not sufficient to only display your access control card at the card scanner in the front of the access points.
Several access technologies control every access point remotely. Several layers of security measures can be used at high-security access point, such as an active plant control room or a secured computer room. A card reader may be placed at the door, as well as a pin reader that may activate a hidden security camera or other sensory device. As soon as that happens, and before making the final decision of who gets to enter, a security operative may pull up the camera data as well as digital images of authorized security individuals.
Operators now have the ability to control and monitor everything that is taking place, thanks to the many developments to this comprehensive security solution. Not to mention that networks are letting operatives share critical data between many control centers and remote locations as the technological abilities continue to advance. Furthermore, an all-inclusive system also allows for backup command in case of an emergency and even networks outside of the property to ask for assistance.
Comprehending possible threats and providing equipment that deals with and respond to those threats comprise the basic qualities and features that should be presented by every security system.
The many facilities in our day and age are extremely concerned about the very latest technology that will enable them to detect invisible threats especially those linked to nuclear terrorism. An essential layer of protection is established through preventing individuals form bringing unauthorized material into the facility.
According to the marketing director of government and military, GE Security they are attempting to identify anyone that could form any sort of potential risk to the premises, including individuals and all property.
The EntryScan4 portal is the newest addition to the market. Its main function is to detect explosives by tracing trails of their invisible particles. The device can also distinguish trace particles of drugs. This enables the security operatives to immediately know if an individual attempting to enter the facility has been in contact with these potentially dangerous elements.
Obviously, the detection process is extremely critical for nuclear facilities. Disastrous results could occur if an explosive reached the reactor. Not to mention that the system has also carried out the best technology to make sure that the portals fit the space limitations set by the NRC and maintain a steady flow of traffic in the vicinity. It is expected that the scanning procedure for explosives will be one area that security market will steadily continue to enhance for many years ahead. There are numerous types of threats that are still left without a security solution such as chemical and biological weapons as well as dirty bombs.
According to the security officials of the property, they are not only concerned about the security threats of the moment but (which mainly revolve around explosives), but in addition, they acknowledge the fact that after Sept. 11, but there are new threats coming out that need immediate to be addressed with technology that would protect their customers and property.
Abandoning the facility
even though the actual nuclear facilities are very well protected, the issue and real problem lies once the waste leaves the building's premises. Nuclear waste is often misunderstood even though a potential aid to evil doers.
The president of Perma-Fix Environmental Services Inc posed up and interesting comment to show how public react to the nuclear waste dilemma. He noted that after giving a choice between having a tanker load of gasoline or a truckload of hazardous waste driving by your house the general response would almost be that the load of waste would bother the average citizen more about his health than the gasoline.
However the proper answer should be the gasoline truckload since a truckload of hazardous waste is usually filled with dirt that has some faint traces of radioactive material in it swept up from a weapon plant or the floors of reactors.
A technical reality and perceived reality make up the two realities of waste. As expected most of the time the public doesn't understand the types of waste and the treatment procedures used to maintain it. Fear of the unknown is the common reputation associated with nuclear waste.
The perception of this material is very negative especially because you can not see, hear, or feel it in any form or fashion.
Remembering the Past
However the public's fear is completely justified given the all the horrific memories of past incidents such as the disaster in Love Canal, N.Y., and Super fund sites that continued to be cleaned by the environmental protection agency. Furthermore, the manager of the property also believes that nuclear industries in general are getting better at treating waste than when the nuclear technology was first introduced.
Adding on, nuclear waste has an assortment of risk levels; the most common kind is low-level waste where the risks are really minimal. Storage and Treatment of waste is also very essential, a company like Perma-Fix will treat a waste if it is low level or medium level.
The radioactive waste is solidified by going through a chemical treatment at a nuclear waste management facility. Before storage the radioactive waste gets capsulated. The terror threat is significantly lowered by these processes. According to the security manger of the facility, a terrorist gaining access to the low-level solidified waste doesn't pose a significant level of threat due to the dissipation of the nuclear particles.
On the other side, High-risk waste is moved to the Yucca Mountain location immediately. This is due to the fact that this waste material poses the greatest threat and would be superlative for terrorist and other evil doers. According to the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, the highly toxic waste will go through the same solidification process in order to make it unable to explode or spill. The only safety concern and risk potential associated with this waste is the tens of thousands of years it will continue emitting the dangerous radiation before it finally releases all its harmful energy.
Nuclear material is being guarded by professionals dedicated to security and safety especially because it can not be trusted in the hands of civilians. Luckily, the nuclear security is advancing quickly and enabling us to keep a constant check on this dangerous but necessary industry field.
Security electronic systems fiber-optic sensing control technology access alarm CCTV intrusion detection lighting communication perimeter recognition card scanner sensory device portal explosives
|
