Over the course of the past few months, ABC News sent 10 students out to college campuses across the nation that had nuclear research reactors. Of the 25 ABC investigated, many had inadequate vehicle checks, tours of sensitive locations, unlocked doors, and lackadaisical security overall.
RPI’s L. David Walthousen Lab was one of the facilities examined. Built in 1964, it uses low-enriched uranium fuel to produce a power level of about .10 kW and is used for educational and research purposes only.
ABC found no fatal flaws in the security, though they observed no guards and the students were able to wander around in front of the reactor for about 30 minutes on two occasions unnoticed. Director of Media Relations Theresa Bourgeois would not comment to ABC on the details of the lab’s security, but said they had been upgraded.
In the wake of the investigation, members of the House and Senate have expressed concerns about the possibility of terrorist attacks on the facilities. The Nuclear Regulatory Agency also opened investigation into a number of the schools involved and is also reviewing reactor security procedures at other educational facilities.
