Nuclear Plant Journal, January-February 2016 NuclearPlantJournal.com
43
Finally Zachry also provides training
for each of its software packages (e.g.,
PROTO-FLO™, PROTO-HX™, PROTO-
HVAC™,
PROTO-SPRINKLER™,
GOTHICTM, and RADTRAD-NAI) both
to employees and clients at our offices
and at client locations. In addition to
training, Zachry hosts a periodic Users
Group Meeting, open to any client that
uses the software. Users Group Meetings
include basic training as well as in-depth
discussion on advanced uses, techniques,
and specific scenarios that have been
encountered while using Zachry software.
7.
How has Zachry helped the plants
meet cyber threat challenges
?
Brinkman:
It is impossible to escape
the harsh reality that in the technological
worldwe live in, cyber attacks are, andwill
remain a constant threat in our everyday
lives. Unfortunately, this is a condition
that is also faced by our nuclear operating
plants that also rely on the capabilities
offered by a digital environment.
The nuclear industry has proactively
developed guidance documents to
establish a consistent methodology for
assessing and addressing cyber security
vulnerabilities to comply with the NRC
requirements prescribed in Security
Orders and associated rulemaking.
Zachry
has
been
intimately
involved with implementing the industry
established cyber security guidance
for several nuclear facilities. The
introduction of digital solutions to deal
with equipment obsolescence inherently
introduces cyber related vulnerabilities
and threat vectors. This requires efforts
which include, at a minimum, digital
asset classification, performance of Cyber
Security risk assessments and applying
defensive models with a defense-in-depth
approach to name a few.
One type of solution involves the
installation of Data Diodes to ensure
unidirectional data transfers between
critical layers and network appliances.
While this appears to be a simple and
straightforward, it still requires an
evaluation of the impact to heating,
ventilation and electrical loading
conditions and how it must be protected
by the overall site’s physical security
strategy.
Zachry continues to expand our
cyber knowledge and actively participates
in cyber security training to remain on
the leading edge of this challenging
area. In addition to remaining fluent
with the NRC requirements and industry
guidance, Zachry has elected to invest in
our understanding of the tools, techniques
and exploits of the cyber hacker to provide
us a different perspective and put us in the
best position to recognize and know how
best to defend these future challenges.
8.
How has Zachry helped the plants
minimize radiation dose to workers in the
plants?
Harrell:
Zachry has performed
radiological analyses to support the
location of new instruments, such as fuel
pool level indication, and controls to
assure that both personnel and equipment
doses are maintained well below limits.
Zachry has also performed radiological
analyses to assess the best travel routes
to minimize operator and engineer
mission doses during the performance of
critical post-event activities. Additionally
Zachry has performed outage evolution
dose analyses to determine timing
and personnel location to assure dose
was maintained as low as reasonably
achievable. This included determining the
dose during pool level change evolutions.
Zachry has additionally performed dose
analyses to optimize the storage of nuclear
materials, such as control blades and fuel
assemblies, to assess HVAC performance
changes and intake relocations to reduce
personnel dose, and to determine the dose
in emergency response facilities during
system maintenance.
Contact: Robert Atkisson Jr., Zachry
Nuclear Engineering, Inc., 14 Lords Hill
Rd, Stonington, CT 06378; telephone:
618-244-6000
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