Schumer: Overhaul NRC Licensing For Radioactive Materials

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is calling on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to overhaul its licensing protocol for obtaining radioactive materials, citing a recent report that a fictitious company got a license for enough material for a dirty bomb.

The New York Democrat says the recent bombing in New York City and that report from the Government Accountability Office should force federal officials to determine whether dangerous security loopholes existing in the NRC policies and procedures.

"This won't make it any harder for legitimate companies to get the materials they might need, but it will stop lone wolves, anyone setting up a fake company to buy this stuff," Schumer told reporters, including WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini.

According to the NRC, of the 21,000 radioactive materials licenses in the U.S. only 2,900 are licensed by the commission. The rest are administered by states.

In the hands of terorrists, radioactive materials could help create a highly destructive explosive device,

While category 3 materials are considered least dangerous, Schumer says the NRC doesn't review specific security measures before those licenses are issued.

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