What, me worry?

Here's a good one. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ruled that the operators of nuclear power facilities are not responsible for protecting them from terrorist attacks. Hmmm. So, who is?

Simple answer to simple question: No one.

Despite the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's insistence Monday that nuclear power plant operators not be responsible for protecting plants from airborne terrorist attacks, state officials say New Jersey's four nuclear facilities still must consider what the possibility of such an attack would mean to the environment.

Especially contentious is the ongoing license-renewal attempt by the Oyster Creek nuclear generating station in Lacey Township, which is about 30 miles north of Atlantic City. That facility stores about 375 tons of highly radioactive spent fuel in a pool 119 feet above the ground. Although this pool — and the reactor below — is enclosed in a corrugated steel structure, critics say it is not enough to protect the facility from an attack by a determined terrorist.

The state Department of Environmental Protection is trying to force the nuclear facility, which is owned by Exelon, and the NRC to include the possibility of an attack in the plant's attempt at a license extension. The Oyster Creek plant is the nation's oldest operating nuclear facility. Its license is due to expire in 2009, but Exelon has applied for a 20-year renewal of that license.

Typical Bush approach. If things go okay, the business interests will get wealthy. If things go poorly, the public will pay.