Exelon Nuclear has fired the security firm that guarded the Peach Bottom nuclear plant after viewing videotapes apparently showing three to five guards at a time napping in a break room on overnight shifts.

Exelon officials also said they would review Wackenhut Corp.'s security at Three Mile Island and eight other nuclear plants.

Two videotapes taken two to six months ago by a security officer at Peach Bottom showed Wackenhut guards napping while sitting on chairs in a "ready room," which is used as a break room, Exelon Generation Chief Operating Officer Chris Crane said in a statement.

"This is not acceptable and we will not tolerate it," Crane said, though he said the actions did not affect plant safety or security.

Under federal security rules for nuclear plants, guards are allowed to read, study, eat or relax in the room but are required to remain alert and ready to respond throughout their shifts, company officials said.

The tapes showed three to five officers at a time sleeping, The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reported today.

Exelon's Crane said fewer than 10 officers were shown sleeping in the videos.

Inattentiveness-to-duty issues by control-room operators at Peach Bottom prompted the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down Peach Bottom from 1987 to 1989.

And a control-room manager was found sleeping at TMI in 2006, spurring reviews.

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