- The Nuclear Safety Commission has rejected the idea of
installing surface-to-air missiles to protect Canada's nuclear facilities,
arguing such a measure risks the accidental shooting down of commercial
planes.
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- Although the commission had considered the option after
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it was not included yesterday in
a host of proposed new security regulations. Instead, the regulations will
force operators of nuclear facilities to boost the number of armed guards
at reactor sites and construct two new buildings to house the nuclear response
force.
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- The new buildings will be erected at Darlington and Pickering,
the two nuclear facilities closest to Toronto.
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- Michel Cleroux, a spokesman for the commission, said
while it is ultimately up to the Canadian Armed Forces to decide whether
to install surface-to-air missiles, the commission has rejected the idea.
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- "What would you really do with a surface-to-air
missile?" asked Mr. Cleroux. "Planes fly all the time over (the
facilities). It's a major air route ... Who makes these split-second decisions
to shoot down a plane? So it's not a very practical or workable solution.
How long does it take you before you know that the airliner is coming directly
at the nuclear plant?"
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- Mr. Cleroux compared the debate over missiles to that
of a proposed no-fly zone, another measure considered unworkable. Instead,
planes are required to stay at least 1,000 feet above a facility.
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- "If no one can fly within 60 kilometres of Darlington,
what does that mean? You can't use Pearson Airport (in Toronto),"
he said. "Your real protection against the use of aircraft as a terrorist
instrument is not shooting them down. Your real protection is in controlling
the access to aircraft by persons who shouldn't have access."
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- The regulations also avoid any mention of reinforcing
the nuclear facilities so that they could withstand the impact of an airplane
crash. Mr. Cleroux said the commission is continuing to study that option.
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- A 2001 report by New Scientist magazine estimated that
a plane crash could release 44 times more radioactivity than the Chernobyl
disaster.
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- The proposed new rules formalize interim security measures
introduced after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and provide significant
detail as to how Canada intends to protect its nuclear facilities.
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- The regulations call for enhanced security screening
for members of the soon-to-be permanent nuclear response forces, including
background, police and security checks.
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- The regulations also require Canada's nuclear facilities
to purchase explosives detectors and X-ray machines to screen vehicles
and people visiting the facilities and to ensure two separate security
systems are in place to detect intruders.
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- According to the regulations, the guards must wear bulletproof
vests and have access to night-vision goggles. A recent job posting in
Chalk River revealed the armed guards must have a high school diploma or
equivalent, as well as knowledge of sociology and contemporary social problems
and excellent communication skills.
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- In her description of regulations in the Canada Gazette,
Eileen Boyd, the assistant clerk of the Privy Council, states the host
of increased security measures "would serve as a model for developing
countries that possess nuclear substances" for the protection of nuclear
sites from terrorists.
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- Negotiations over the new measures have taken place over
the course of the past year. Ms. Boyd states that the operators of the
nuclear facilities had objected to the undisclosed high cost of implementing
the measures, but were now onside.
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- http://www.canada.com/national/story.asp?id=ED885AC0-
1AA3-44D3-8773-583330C4FD6C
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