Reid bill would tighten nuclear plant security

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 9:39 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., planned today to re-introduce legislation aimed at creating tighter security at U.S. nuclear power plants.

Reid, along with bill co-sponsors Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., James Jeffords, I-Vt., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., were scheduled to renew their push for improved plant security at a press conference today.

The bill is similar to one originally introduced in November 2001, but the Senate did not take action on that bill. The legislation aims to goad the operators of the nation's 103 nuclear reactors to update security standards and conduct new comprehensive reviews of security and emergency plans.

The bill differs from original versions in that it does not contain a controversial provision that calls for "federalizing" security forces at the plants, which use private security. Reid backs that proposal, but stripped it from the bill last year after facing opposition to it, including opposition from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.