Reactor Looks Safe, Cox Says

After a tour Monday of UC Irvine’s nuclear reactor, Rep. Christopher Cox, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the research facility appeared secure and might be “far more trouble than it’s worth” for terrorists to attack.

“The indications I’m getting are that it’s extremely safe,” said Cox (R-Newport Beach), who spent more than three hours viewing the reactor and discussing security precautions with UCI officials.

Cox said he hadn’t formed a final opinion of the reactor’s vulnerability because he was waiting for experts from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to answer his questions about the facility.

The congressman is looking into the reactor’s security in response to comments by John Graham, a UCI business professor and Democrat who is running against Cox in the 48th congressional district race.

Graham, who was not invited on the tour, says the low-power reactor is easily accessible in the basement of Rowland Hall and from doors that go from the reactor room to a loading dock.

He said he hoped Cox would interview more people than UCI and NRC officials about reactor security during his inquiry.

“You just can’t talk to owners and regulators of reactors and expect them to be objective about safety and security,” Graham said.

The reactor generates a fraction of the power of a commercial nuclear power plant and operates only a few hours a week for research and training purposes.