Wackenhut and Wassail

Westward leading still proceeding guide us to that perfect light….

Lord, I had a good Christmas. What with the plum pudding, the caroling, the wassail, and the few days' relaxation, I believe I may be adequately refreshed to proceed ever westward (or "onward," as we moderns say) just like a wandering mage in what is, by anyone's estimation, this very tough job of mine. Yes, it beats walking at night with neither map nor GPS in a cold desert but it has its drawbacks. So please guide me, Lord, and keep anger from my voice. Help me sound vaguely amused at worst, and never mean or scared.

For there is a bullet I must dodge, Lord.

On December 14 Exelon Corp. announced that it will replace its Wackenhut Corp security force. On first "read" that doesn't sound significant to our situation at Vermont Yankee, but it is. Exelon Corp has 17 nuclear reactors at 10 nuclear power plants nationwide. Wackenhut Corp is the contract security firm protecting all of those plants. The reason for the contract non-renewal is this: About 3 months ago a few (actually, about 10 according to one press report) Wackenhut Corp security guards were caught napping on videotape all together while ostensibly on watch at the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant in south central Pennsylvania. The "catcher" was a Wackenhut guard who had previously complained to the NRC. The New York television station WCBS aired the tape. The NRC noticed.

The guard who recorded the videotape was disciplined.

Wackenhut Corp supplies the guards at Vermont Yankee, as well. We announced the arrangement to much fanfare in July of 2003, and I wish we hadn't. And so, Lord, I'm hoping that we, too, can get rid of Wackenhut-—kind of sweep them under the carpet so that the activists here don't focus on our association with a security force that has become a laughing stock of the industry.

That's the bullet.

And after all, Lord, it's not as though security at the plant is a big deal. Those guards only protect us from intruders and bombs smuggled in (or not) by employees. It's not as though Wackenhut can do anything about airplanes.

Amen, right?

Fake-Rob.