The intruders – including an 82-year-old nun – managed to access the area surrounding the highly enriched uranium materials facility, severing three fences and defacing a building before being apprehended.
The security firm concerned, WSI Oak Ridge – a subsidiary of G4S Government Solutions Inc – had its contract for the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee terminated on Monday following a Department of Energy investigation. The company that operates the plant on behalf of the NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] – B&W Y-12 – is taking over direct control of security at the facility.
The investigation found that the security incident represented “multiple system failures on several levels”, including “ineptitude in responding to alarms, failures to maintain critical security equipment, over-reliance on compensatory measures, misunderstanding of security protocols, poor communications, and weaknesses in contract and resource management.”
Contractor governance and federal oversight also failed to identify and correct early indicators of these multiple system breakdowns, said the report.
“When combined, these issues directly contributed to an atmosphere in which the trespassers could gain access to the protected security area directly adjacent to one of the nation’s most critically important and highly secured weapons-related facilities.”
Announcing the termination of the security contract, president and general manager of B&W Y 12, Chuck Spencer, said:
“B&W Y-12 fully supports NNSA’s recommendation in this matter and will work diligently to further enhance the security at Y-12 and make the transition for former WSI Oak Ridge employees as seamless as possible. We recognise that our focus on safety and security at Y 12 cannot be compromised, and we remain committed to continuing to drive improvements in both areas.”
WSI Oak Ridge was operating under a separate contract with NNSA at Y 12 when the intrusion incident occurred on 28 July. After that, NNSA made WSI Oak Ridge a subcontractor to B&W Y 12.
The incident has prompted congressman Mike Turner and six other representatives to sponsor a bill which would transfer responsibility for security at certain nuclear weapons facilities to the military.
Commenting last month on the introduction of the bill, Mr Turner said:
“Last week my subcommittee heard directly from NNSA officials and experts on the Y-12 incident and the alarming lapse of security. On a bipartisan basis we were stunned by the series of failures, at all levels, that enabled this incident to occur. We were also dismayed by the lack of accountability in responsible federal officials. It is clear that the NNSA is broken and we must take immediate action to ensure the security of the nation’s nuclear materials.”
