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Illegal aliens using false Social Security numbers were able to enter
and work as contract painters at a power plant in Florida, including
work near one nuclear reactor.
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Officials at Progress Energy, which runs
the Crystal River Energy Complex in Citrus County, say they followed
federal regulations and that the contractor should have better vetted
its employees.
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Now a congresswoman is calling for
hearings on how the lapse could have happened and calling for the
Senate to pass a bill cracking down on illegal aliens' ability to
obtain government identification.
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"We certainly don't want to have one illegal
alien at a nuclear power plant, let alone several," said Rep. Ginny
Brown-Waite, Florida Republican. "According to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Progress Energy did absolutely nothing wrong. They followed
the guidelines. But in today's world, the terrorists are just itching
to get at us. We need to have more assurances than just pass to the
contractor that's been hired."
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She said the incident illustrated the need
for the Senate to pass the REAL ID act, which passed the House in
February and sets national standards for the use of driver's licenses
in federal facilities -- an incentive for states to make sure
applicants are in the country legally.
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Progress Energy said at least two workers
used identification with false Social Security numbers to enter the
facility as part of their contract job, and officials at the Florida
Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council said the number
could be as high as seven.
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The individuals worked for Brock Specialty
Services, a Texas-based company that was hired to do maintenance at the
facility.
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Progress Energy spokesman Rick Kimble said
the energy company followed the NRC's guidelines. "Point blank, it
should not have happened. We obviously should be taking steps in the
future to make sure it does not happen," he said. "But we followed the
regulations that were required. We also think the contractor had an
obligation to do pre-screening as well."
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Brock officials couldn't be reached for comment.
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Mr. Kimble said the NRC requires that
persons admitted to power plants have valid government-issued
identification, which these workers had. He said the men provided
Social Security numbers to be matched against law-enforcement
databases, but the false numbers the workers gave didn't raise any red
flags.
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He said the plant has four fossil fuel
units and one reactor. He said just one person who submitted a false
Social Security number had access to the nuclear unit, and he, like any
other visitor, had a constant escort.
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The building and construction union first
raised the issue as part of a complaint about contractors at the power
company. Michael J. Jeske, secretary-treasurer for the union, said no
matter how the workers managed to gain access, something was broken.
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"That doesn't give the local community a
very good feeling, if you have a situation where undocumented
foreigners can get access to a nuclear power plant and that doesn't
violate anything," he said.
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