National Guard Troops Pulled From New York Nuclear Plants
May 16, 2008 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
National Guard troops that have stood guard at four upstate New York nuclear power plants since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are being withdrawn this summer.
Eric Durr, a spokesman for the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs, tells WSTM-TV in Syracuse that there wasn’t any money included in the state budget for keeping the troops at nuclear plants near Oswego and Ginna, which is near Rochester.
A spokeswoman for Constellation Energy, which operates the two nuclear plants at Nine Mile Point in Scriba, says it was notified that the troops will be withdrawn from there this summer.
The Division of Military and Naval Affairs says about 100 troops are stationed at the four plants, and deployments at others in the state are under review.
Additional
The National Guard will no longer be part of the security contingent protecting the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth.
Homeland Security officials say the drawdown of the 18-person force will begin Sunday under a new security plan developed between plant owner Entergy and state and local officials. The transition will be complete by July.
Juliette Kayyem, undersecretary of the state Homeland Security department, told The Patriot Ledger of Quincy that a modern and more sustainable system was needed to protect the plant.
The new plan includes a direct phone line between plant security employees and state emergency management, state police and Plymouth police.
The troops were put in place seven years ago.
This is another example of the serious financial stress upon the country and an act that scares me. The potential threat hasn’t gone away. The borders to the north are just as open as ever. If you can get to Canada, you can get to the U.S. if you are willing to walk in the snow or ride a snowmobile in the snow.
Nuclear power plants are a much needed resource and need to be guarded by other an a private security firm. They are very skilled and have good people but as far as I’m concerned, you can never have to many guns protecting something that has the potential to kill millions.
Although the safety systems are numerous, a person with intent and willingness to be killed in the process can do alot of damage before being caught or killed.
My personal thoughts…