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Lawmaker Tours UC-Irvine's Nuclear Reactor
by Dan Weikel, October 12, 2004
After a tour Monday of UC Irvine's nuclear reactor, Rep. Christopher Cox, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the research facility appeared secure and might be "far more trouble than it's worth" for terrorists to attack.
"The indications I'm getting are that it's extremely safe," said Cox ( R-Newport Beach ), who spent more than three hours viewing the reactor and discussing security precautions with UCI officials.
Cox said he hadn't formed a final opinion of the reactor's vulnerability because he was waiting for experts from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to answer his questions about the facility.
The congressman is looking into the reactor's security in response to comments by John Graham, a UCI business professor and Democrat who is running against Cox in the 48th congressional district race.
Graham has demanded the closure of the reactor, saying that terrorists could easily blow it up and spread radiation through the campus.
Graham, who was not invited on the tour, says the reactor is easily accessible in the basement of Rowland Hall and from doors that go from the reactor room to a loading dock.
He said he hoped Cox would interview more people than UCI and NRC officials.
"You should be talking to nuclear power experts, security experts and critics of the nuclear power industry," Graham said.
"You just can't talk to owners and regulators of reactors and expect them to be objective about safety and security."
Graham suggested that Cox and others look at photographs of the Oklahoma City and 1993 World Trade Center bombings to see what damage a large truck bomb can do.
The 35-year-old reactor, in the university's complex of science buildings, generates a fraction of the power of a commercial nuclear power plant and operates only a few hours a week for research and training.
The reactor core is under 25 feet of water in a concrete pool with walls from 2 to 5 feet thick. It is a low-power design that officials say cannot melt down even if the cooling water drains.
Since 9/11, UCI officials say they have improved security to the satisfaction of the NRC by adding alarms, sensors and television monitors to alert campus police.
Radioactive materials are stored in vault-like containers that are difficult to open. There are no full-time guards or permanent security barriers, however.
"We believe we will have time to intercept those who want to do us harm," said chemistry professor George Miller, who supervises the reactor. "When there are elevated threat levels, we increase police patrols and put up some temporary barriers. If there is a direct threat, we will go into high gear."
"There is little fuel, and the core is underwater in a pool surrounded by concrete," Cox said. "It looks like it would be far more trouble than it's worth for a terrorist to attack."
Originally published by the Los Angeles Times.
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