Title: Nuclear
Course: Critical Infrastructure: An Overview > Section: Course Content

Click here for a downloadable version of this document: Nuclear Energy

Nuclear

Merriam-Webster defines nuclear as “of, relating to, producing, or using energy that is created when the nuclei of atoms are split apart or joined together” [1]. Nuclear energy can be used for heat and electricity. Nuclear materials are used in research and there are medicinal applications for some nuclear materials. Nuclear fission reactions, the typical reaction used to create electricity, have a byproduct often referred to as nuclear waste. Nuclear waste is radioactive and could be dangerous if not properly handled and contained.

Critical Infrastructure Sector

The Department of Homeland Security has determined Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste to be one of the 16 sectors of critical infrastructure. The DHS is the Sector Specific Agency (SSA) for the Nuclear Sector. “Nuclear power accounts for approximately 20 percent of the nation's electrical generation, provided by 104 commercial nuclear reactors licensed to operate at 65 nuclear power plants throughout the United States” [2].

This sector includes nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors that are for testing and research, the manufacturers of nuclear reactors and their components, and all the aspects of nuclear waste handling and disposal. “The sector is interdependent with other critical infrastructure sectors, including: Chemical as a consumer of hazardous chemicals at fuel cycle facilities; Energy as a supplier of electricity to the nation's electrical grid; Healthcare and Public Health as a supplier of nuclear medicine, radiopharmaceuticals and in the sterilization of blood and surgical supplies; and Transportation Systems through the movement of radioactive materials” [2].

Regulation

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, often shortened to NRC, is a regulatory body that oversees reactor safety, new reactors, reactor license renewals, operator licensing, materials safety, materials licensing, and waste management [3].

Why Are Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Wastes Critical Infrastructure?

Purposes

Nuclear energy is used for 20 % of the electricity supplied through our nation’s power grid. Nuclear energy is used to power military ships and submarines. Nuclear weapons are maintained in the United States as a method of defense. Nuclear material is used in medicine in diagnostic tools and medicines, for example it is used in medicines to treat cancer [2].  Radioactive materials are used in the irradiation of some food items. It serves to prevent foodborne illness, preserve food (by destroying spoilage causing organisms), control insects on fruits (preventing tropical insects from being imported with fruits), delaying of sprouting or ripening to increase longevity, and to sterilize foods (necessary sometimes for patients with compromised immune systems) [4]. As a security measure mail that is to be delivered to the White House and other governmental addresses is irradiated to kill potential anthrax spores [5].

Electricity

Nuclear power plants are valuable to the United States because of the power they provide. However, losing the electricity generated by nuclear power plants could just be part of what could happen if we lost this part of our country’s infrastructure.

Threats

The nuclear reactors are potential terrorist targets and could be used as weapons against the United States. Nuclear waste could be used against us in weapons as well.

Security

It is vitally important to the security of the United States to maintain the safety and security of our nuclear infrastructure. Nuclear weapons, waste, and our nuclear power plants could all be used against us if a security breach ended in hostile (perhaps terrorist) takeover of these critical assets.

Weapons

Nuclear weapons are used help deter other countries from attacking the United States. Plutonium is the primary radioactive substance used in nuclear weapons. Plutonium, once the weapon is triggered, is caused to undergo fission causing a tremendous release of energy.

In a Department of Energy document on funding from 2013, DOE stated their budget intention with the following: “Continue[s] investments to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear weapons stockpile in support of the planned decrease in deployed U.S. and Russian weapons under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty” [6]. The “… Department of Energy protects Americans from the threat of nuclear harm and pollution maintains a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent” [7, p. 104]. The budget in 2013 increased 5 percent over what it was the previous year for weapons activities.