Arrests Call Into Question Nuclear Plant Employee Training

[bananas]

Source: NBC Chicago

Two more Dresden Nuclear Power Plant employees have been arrested in the past month, further calling into question the security screening that all nuclear power plant employees must undergo on a regular basis.

<snip>

The Dresden plant is one of six Illinois nuclear power plants operated by Exelon. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ordered Exelon to retrain all workers in those plants on proper security procedures, specifically on how to recognize and report suspicious behavior among employees.

It's the direct result of the activities of Michael Buhrman and Landon Brittain, two former high-ranking Dresden employees who were senior nuclear operators at the plant.

Brittain is awaiting trial in DuPage County Jail, and Buhrman was just returned to the U.S. by federal marshalls after being arrested in Venezuela.

<snip>

IN the past 24 hours, the NRC has issued a personal letter to Burhmain and Brittain formally prohibiting involvement in any future license nuclear activities to protect the public health and safety.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Arrests-Call-Into-Question-Nuclear-Plant-Employee-Training-229795161.html

[bananas]

1. U.S. nuclear reactor operators captured - Several officers wounded - Terrorism charges for ...

http://enenews.com/report-u-s-nuclear-reactor-operators-captured-several-officers-wounded-terrorism-charges-for-wanting-to-acquire-c-4-explosives-investigated-for-arms-trading-trafficking-of-illegal-substan

Report: U.S. nuclear reactor operators captured — Several officers wounded — Terrorism charges for wanting to acquire C-4 explosives — Investigated for arms trading, trafficking of illegal substances — Planning kidnapping, murder

Published: October 29th, 2013 at 2:57 am ET
By ENENews
27 comments

NRC Press Release, Oct. 28, 2013: NRC Issues Orders to Dresden Nuclear Plant and Former Plant Employees [...] NRC investigated the incident in which senior reactor operator Michael J. Buhrman, planned to rob an armored car and recruited the assistance of another senior reactor operator, Landon E. Brittain [...] Buhrman was apprehended for aggravated vehicular carjacking and fled the country after being released on bail [...] NRC concluded that Buhrman’s and Brittain’s actions while offsite demonstrated they could not be relied upon to adhere to NRC requirements to protect plant and public safety. In addition, Dresden personnel who knew about Buhrman’s plan to commit an offsite crime failed to report the situation to plant management, which is an NRC requirement [...] The company agreed to abide by the conditions of the order [including] developing a presentation of the facts and lessons learned from this incident to be presented at industry forums. [...] The orders to Buhrman and Brittain prohibit them from participating in NRC-licensed activities due to the NRC’s lack of confidence that they can meet the agency’s safety requirements [...]

Now for the rest of the story…

Enformable, Oct. 25, 2013: [...] SEBIN is an elite taskforce [in Venezuela] that only works special cases of organized crime, major fraud, etc [...] SEBIN was already investigating [Buhrman and Brittain] for illegal arms trade and trafficking of illegal substances including steroids. After arriving in Venezuela, Buhrman and Brittain rented a luxury property, frequented a local gym, and were associated with a Venezuelan gang [...] Once Buhrman began catching on to [a Venezuelan racketeer's plan to tell police of Brittain and Buhrman], he began planning his murder. While attempting to capture Buhrman, several officers were wounded by the fugitive. One left with a fractured arm and another with a fractured foot. [...] Landon Brittain was captured on May 23rd [...] Buhrman’s last lover in Venezuela was the 19-year-old daughter of a prominent businessman [...] the fugitive criminal was planning an offensive move involving kidnapping the businessman and holding him ransom. SEBIN arrested five other Venezuelans in relation to Buhrman and Brittain, who all face charges [that include] terrorism. The terrorism charge was added because Buhrman was interested in acquiring C-4 explosives and a Kalashnikov AK-47 for criminal purposes. Michael Buhrman was on a 5:00 pm flight today [Oct. 25, 2013] in the custody of U.S. Marshalls en route to the United States from Venezuela. [...]

See also: Authorities: Masked senior nuclear reactor operator carjacks woman with loaded gun -- Says he was just 'thrill seeking'

[Mnemosyne]

2. K&R nt

[Turbineguy]

3. Thrillseeking.

Well, I suppose operating a nuclear power plant can be a bit dull. At least that's what we all hope for.