The Banner’s article on the terror prep drill going off “without a hitch” on the same day as the London terror attack was informative. It described a, "full-scale role-playing scenario involving two suspected terrorists who wanted to steal a plane and fill it with explosives and head to the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Vernon." In the drill a "duo took hostages, exchanged shots with police and ultimately failed in their mission.
Fire trucks and ambulances arrived minutes after a van was set on fire. Seventeen patients were rushed to the hospital. From start to finish, including a media briefing at the hospital, a crew of observers kept tabs on how police, fire, and emergency officials responded."
The article was informative for a few reasons. I live in Brattleboro, 5 miles from the reactor. No drill of this sort has occurred around here in a long time if ever. Why?
In fact the Brattleboro Select board has repeatedly stated that no drill will ever occur in Brattleboro with our ten thousand plus residents.
I wish to commend Bennington on your success. You staged a terror scenario and nabbed the planted terrorists. Congratulations.
The only irony here is that up to September 2001 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission used to stage similar "let's see if we can thwart a staged attack on a US nuclear station", and in August of 2001 the security at VY lost. The planted, announced, staged and expected attackers were able to access the control room even though the armed security guards supposedly had training and knew where and when they would be arriving. This failed test earned VY the least secure nuclear station in the country notoriety for 2002. Post 9/11, the NRC stopped doing those force on force Operational Safety Response Evaluation tests.
The article was also informative to show that others in the state consider VY to be a terrorist target. I find it interesting that the legislature so quickly permits VY whatever it wants given the target of terrorism it is. Are the jobs really worth it? The income to the state coffers? What about the legacy we leave future VT generations. Do we really want to be leaving our grandchildren radiation to clean up after us when we are gone?
related to:
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/Stories/0,1413,104~8676~2956368,00.html