Exelon creating its own security force

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Saturday, December 15, 2007 1:01 AM CST | () comments

Exelon Nuclear announced Friday that it has terminated its security contract with Wackenhut Nuclear Services and will create in-house security forces at its 10 nuclear stations, including its Quad-Cities Station in Cordova, Ill.

The decision comes about three months after Exelon terminated its security contract with Wackenhut at its Peach Bottom, Pa., plant, where guards were videotaped sleeping on the job.

The new Exelon Nuclear Security will provide all aspects of security at the company’s nuclear plants in Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The transition will occur over the next six months.

Exelon said it previously has considered establishing an internal security operation and made the decision after an assessment this fall of Wackenhut’s security operations. Wackenhut representatives were informed of the decision Dec. 3.

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

Bill Harris, spokesman at the Quad-Cities Station, said the company now has a model at Peach Bottom “of how everything works.” In that case, he said many Wackenhut employees were hired by Exelon to continue providing security. “They are already trained and already have the skills,” he said, adding that the same is likely to occur at Cordova.

Harris added that the transition could take until July at all Exelon’s operations. “There’s not an on-off switch, that’s the reason it could take some time.”

In a news release, Exelon chief nuclear officer Charles Pardee said “We view this as a positive development for our company and the new employees of Exelon Nuclear Security.”

In its own news release, Wackenhut acknowledged Exelon’s decision.

Exelon operates 17 reactors at 10 plants nationwide, including facilities in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Many of its security officers have backgrounds in military and law enforcement.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at

(563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.