The Associated Press

Tue, Jan 6, 2009 (1:09 p.m.)

Federal regulators are proposing a $65,000 fine against the operator of a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant where security guards routinely napped on the job.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the fine against Exelon Nuclear on Tuesday after completing an investigation of the Peach Bottom plant in south-central Pennsylvania.

Exelon Nuclear spokeswoman Beth Archer says the company will pay the fine.

Exelon ended its contract with an outside security company for Peach Bottom in 2007 after a videotape surfaced of guards sleeping in a "ready room" at the power plant.

Archer says Exelon's monitoring of security at the nuclear power plant has improved since the company established its own, in-house security force.