Fergie's Tech Blog

Wackenhut Fired After 'Sleeping Guards' Discovered at U.S. Nuclear Facility

Via CBS3.com.

Exelon Corp. said Friday it will replace Wackenhut Corp. with an in-house security force at its 10 nuclear power plants following the discovery earlier this year that guards at a Pennsylvania plant were sleeping on the job.

The announcement came 2 1/2 months after Exelon terminated its contract with Wackenhut at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in south-central Pennsylvania after security officers were videotaped nodding off or dozing.

Exelon said it was acting even though a review of security at its other plants found "no significant deficiencies." The change is to be made by next July.

The Chicago-based company was under pressure to take the action following an uproar over the video and other alleged sleeping incidents.

On Thursday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission directed operators of commercial nuclear power plants to provide it new information about their security practices after reports of recent lapses.

posted by Fergie @ 12/15/2007 06:42:00 PM