Eyeballing
the
Diablo
Canyon
Nuclear
Power
Plant
7 June 2002
Source: Color maps and photos:
Mapquest.com; black and white
photos: TerraServer
USGS 28 May 1994
[Federal Register: March 29, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 61)]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
Security Zone; Waters Adjacent to Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
Plant, Avila Beach, CA
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has established a security zone in the waters
adjacent to Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near Avila Beach,
California. This action is necessary to ensure public safety and
prevent sabotage or terrorist acts against the power plant and
individuals near or in the power plant facilities and the surrounding
communities. Entry into this zone will be prohibited unless
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long
Beach.
DATES: This interim rule is effective at 3:59 p.m. (PDT) on March 29,
2002. Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or
before May 28, 2002.
Background and Purpose
On September 11, 2001, terrorists launched attacks on commercial
and public structures--the World Trade Center in New York and the
Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia--killing large numbers of people and
damaging properties of national significance. There is an increased
risk that further subversive or terrorist activity may be launched
against the United States based on warnings given by national security
and intelligence officials. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
has issued warnings on October 11, 2001 and February 11, 2002
concerning the potential for additional terrorist attacks within the
United States. In addition, the ongoing hostilities in Afghanistan have
made it prudent for important U.S. facilities to be on a higher state
of alert because Osama Bin Ladin and his Al Qaeda organization, and
other similar organizations, have publicly declared an ongoing
intention to conduct armed attacks on U.S. interests worldwide. Due to
these heightened security concerns, and the catastrophic impact a
terrorist attack on a nuclear power plant would have on the surrounding
area and communities, security zones are prudent for navigable
waterways adjacent to these nuclear power plants. To mitigate the risk
of terrorist actions against important U.S. infrastructure, the Coast
Guard has increased safety and security measures on the waterfronts of
nuclear power plants by establishing security zones to aid in the
waterside protection of these facilities. Vessels operating near the
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant present possible platforms from which
individuals may gain unauthorized access to the power plant facilities
or launch terrorist attacks upon the waterfront structures and adjacent
population centers. As a result, the Coast Guard is taking measures to
prevent vessels or persons from accessing the navigable waters close to
the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
This regulation establishes a security zone in the waters of the
Pacific Ocean within a 2,000 yard (approximately one nautical mile)
radius of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant centered at position
35 deg.12'23" N, 120 deg.51'23" W. These coordinates are based upon the
North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
Plant is located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean along California's
Central Coast near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County. Extensive
land-based security measures are already in place to protect Diablo
Canyon Nuclear Power Plant from sabotage. Establishing a security zone
in the waters adjacent to the power plant will aid in the waterside
protection of the facility.
This rulemaking will make permanent the temporary security zone
established on October 2, 2001, which was published in the Federal
Register (66 FR 53713, Oct. 24, 2001) under temporary section 165.T11-
055(a)(3) of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In that
rulemaking, the Coast Guard established a security zone encompassing
the waters within a one nautical mile radius of Diablo Canyon Nuclear
Power Plant, which is essentially the same security zone that we are
now establishing permanently.
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