Last month the NRC invited the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility to participate in a half-day workshop on security updates at nuclear plants. The NRC listed (as best it could under security guidelines) the upgrades that have been done at U. S. nuclear plants since 9/11/01. While participants were impressed with the time the NRC took to appraise the public of security upgrades; one question persisted. Why were residents of San Luis Obispo forced to file a federal appeal to force the NRC to address security concerns before licensing a high-level radioactive waste facility on our coast?

The NRC had spent valuable resources to upgrade security at U.S. nuclear plants over the last 3 years, but denied the contention that security must be addressed before allowing an expanded radioactive storage facility. The denial was based on the fact that the NRC found a terrorist attack, act of malice and insanity as "remote and speculative. Rochelle Becker, the executive director of the Alliance asked the NRC to reimburse the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace $100,000 for the cost of a federal appeal in San Luis Obispo was forced to raise. If the NRC spent valuable resources and taxpayer dollars to upgrade security it is obvious the Commission does not find terrorism and/or acts of malice and insanity "remote and speculative."