BACKGROUNDER
CNSC Action on Nuclear Security
Post September 11, 2001
Updated : October 2005
Prior to September 11th, nuclear facility security requirements in Canada
were based on:
- international recommendations, modified to account for the Canadian
social, cultural, economic and political environment;
- The Nuclear Safety and Control Act and Nuclear Security
Regulations which reflect the threat as assessed by Canadian Security
officials.
The CNSC commissioned studies in late 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 on the
security of nuclear facilities in Canada. The studies addressed potential
internal and external threats to nuclear facilities as well as identifying areas
vital to nuclear safety at CANDU reactors and nuclear research facilities.
Following the events of September 11, 2001:
- Based on the findings of these studies, the CNSC required enhanced nuclear
security provisions at major nuclear facilities. The CNSC also moved to a
risk-based approach in assessing security at such facilities.
- The CNSC has taken steps to update these studies to reflect the current
threat risk to Canada.
- Major nuclear facilities were immediately instructed by the CNSC to
initiate enhanced security measures at their sites. These measures have been
closely reviewed and audited by the CNSC.
- Licensees were subsequently informed that enhanced security measures were
to remain in place until further notice from the CNSC. Enhanced measures are
now being replaced with cost effective long term measures to ensure the
health, safety and national security requirements are maintained.
- Potential threats have been constantly monitored in close collaboration
with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, licensees,
international agencies and other regulators, especially the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission of the United States.
- The President of the CNSC ordered a complete review of Canada's Nuclear
Security Regulations taking into account the findings and recommendations of
recent studies. The review resulted in proposed amendments to the Nuclear
Security Regulations that were released for public comment in October of 2003.
The public comments resulted in further changes to the proposed amendments. As
a result of these changes the proposed amendments were again prepublished in
June 2005 for an additional comment period. The CNSC anticipates that the
amended Nuclear Security Regulations will come into effect in early 2006.
- On October 1, 2001, the CNSC instructed major licensees (including some
research facilities at universities and isotope processing labs) to report
within two weeks on the current status of security measures, including
voluntary measures. The provisions licensees have made are being assessed on a
continuous basis. CNSC is taking an active role in conducting site audits and
evaluations to ensure appropriate security measures are in place.
- As a result of this review, the CNSC ordered immediate action on a number
of measures to increase security at major nuclear facilities. On October 19,
2001, the President of the CNSC met with senior executives of Ontario Power
Generation, Bruce Power, Hydro Québec, New Brunswick Power and Atomic Energy
of Canada Limited to inform the licensees of this order and its content. The
following enhanced measures are now in place:
- Immediate, on-site armed response available twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week.
- Enhanced security screening of employees and contractors involving
background, police and security checks
- Protection against forced vehicle penetration of the Protected Area with
the addition of vehicle barriers
- Improved physical identification checks of personnel utilizing card
access and palm scanners
- Searching of personnel and vehicles utilizing explosives detectors,
X-ray screening and metal detection equipment.
On November 16, 2001, the CNSC completed a second phase of the Security
Review. As a result of the analyses carried out, the CNSC informed the licensees
of a 'second tier' of nuclear facilities (e.g. uranium refineries, mills and
fuel fabricators) of: a) the security measures to be enhanced at their
facilities; and b) of the terms of a vulnerability assessment which they are to
conduct. Some of the security enhancements were to take effect immediately,
while others required gradual or longer term action.
The CNSC will be amending the licenses of these 'second tier' facilities to
capture the security enhancements on a more permanent basis.
The third phase of the security review is underway and will eventually cover
all 4,500 licensees. For each class of licensee, the review:
- examines the current state of security using a risk-based approach
- assesses whether measures currently in place are adequate
- provides recommendations, action notices or directives to upgrade the
physical security when/if required for improvement
- where required the CNSC conducts a follow-up assessment
A significant number of the higher risk sites have now been inspected and
where required additional physical protection measures have been put in place.
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