The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed allowing security guards at nuclear power plants to carry machine guns.

If a new rule is approved they could also use other enhanced weapons to guard spent fuel rods stored at the plants.

Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station has more than 1,000 tons of spent uranium rods, which no longer produce enough heat to make steam to run the generators, but will remain radioactive for thousands of years.

The NRC estimates the weapons upgrades, training and background checks could cost the nuclear power industry more than $30 million.