September-October 2018 NPJ

46 NuclearPlantJournal.com Nuclear Plant Journal, September-October 2018 Industry Peers, the computer model and software has provided the Salem-Hope Creek team with the ability to make physical and security staffing changes to the site (in the computer model) and obtain multiple and repeatable data sets based on these changes. Thus, the use of the software has added a previously unavailable layer of information into the security strategy decision making process to arrive at a defensive posture that statistically has been proven capable of defending against the DBT as defined in 10 CFR 73.1. This integration of computer modeling and simulation software into the PEP has allowed the compilation of attack data that previously would have taken years to obtain, if ever. It is also possible to have that data readily available to the user and decision makers in a matter of minutes or hours. This new, easily retrievable data can be focused on any number of specifics to include: effective fields of fire, various points of view for each defensive position or identifying adversary pathways (fastest or most probable). The data also provides a higher level of confidence to the licensee stakeholders as well as regulatory entities when changes or modifications to the security strategy have been proposed and executed at Salem-Hope Creek. Innovation: Early in 2016, the rising costs of security and DNP Efficiency Bulletin (SEC040) made it necessary for Salem-Hope Creek to challenge and examine the defensive strategy employed at the site utilizing the PEP model as well as the ARES/Avert software model. Beginning with the establishment of an ARES/Avert baseline model to evaluate and establish the current protective strategy’s effectiveness, the management team then began to step through, one by one, various site and staffing configurations. For each SME hypothesized configuration, a new physical and staffing model was created by the ARES/ Avert software so that the hypothetical security strategy could be tested. The use of the ARES/Avert model allowed the management team to evaluate the traditional data gathered through the Performance Evaluation Program, along with historical Force on Force data, and the results of roughly 9,000 software generated attacks against the new security strategy. The ARES/Avert program provided the management team a detailed vulnerability analysis of results in (theoretical) Force on Force space that had been absent from the decision making process from the onset of post 9/11 industry-wide security changes. This resulted in high confidence in the decision to revise the strategy. For the first time since 2005 and the first cycle of Force on Force testing, Salem-Hope Creek was confidently able to reduce committed numbers of Armed Responders and Armed Security Officers and return that salary savings back to the station to make the improvements necessary to improve plant reliability and remain competitive with no adverse impact on safety. The confidence in that data was proven to be well placed when in August 2017 Salem-Hope Creek successfully defended the site during its graded Triennial Force on Force Exercises. The computer data supported improvements of strategically placed barriers and bullet resistant enclosures which drove the Composite Adversary Force (CAF) Team to extreme tactics in both exercises as the normal routes of attack against the site proved too formidable. In the end, with fewer officers and an improved operating budget the site was successfully defended against the design basis threat. Safety Although computer modeling was not and should not be the determining factor in any defensive posture or strategy modification at Salem-Hope Creek, it has afforded the site the ability to confirm or assuage assumptions made by site SMEs prior to incorporating them into FOF activities. Due to the dynamic nature of FOF testing, the involvement of both active security force members, players, adversaries and plant personnel, the potential for injury or damage to plant equipment exists. (2014 Triennial Night 3 Exercise CAF Team Member suffered laceration requiring stitches - 2017 Triennial Night One Exercises caused two Fire Alarms and the bumping of critical equipment by the CAF). With safety as the number one priority during the execution of FOF activities at Salem- Hope Creek, the ARES/Avert software provided and provides the ability to conduct multiple attack simulations, in a variety of defensive postures and strategy Improve communication, effectiveness, and efficiency; Measure security performance to support management decisions. Computer Modeling's... ( Continued from page 45)