ML19221A304
| ML19221A304 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/18/1979 |
| From: | Harpster T NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905210241 | |
| Download: ML19221A304 (3) | |
Text
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?AJ-:R FCR COSCRESSICNAL FELLt ?Sl'I P SE!JCTION P.' 'EL - T E IM O.CT CF 'I"E inI-2 ACC1Lt.NT ON 'ITE FUK I 0F ',UCLE AR PJ,s'E R 159 082 7903c10;?y ~7
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The Bree !!ile Island (nil-2) acci'ent and the subsequent public agd po'itical reac tions prc-nise to constrain the role of nuclear pc cer in the near future to the I!ucicar Generati;n capacity presently in opet 2tten or under ccastruction.
Prior to the D1I-2 accident, rising ceastrut.tien costs, regulatory delt.ys, c.nd uncertainties such as fuel ship ant :m 3
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caste storage ha4'resulted in nunerous cancellaticas and dimin i:.hing fornachharplants. Final analysis of the Dil-2 accident md orders recovery may determine that the costs, both envircn=cntal and econe aic, preclude increased reliance on nuclear pcwer as an attractive energy alternative in the future.
The nost visible impact of the ntI-2 accident will be the Icss of public c ca fidence in the' safety of nuclear plants.
~he threat of evacuatica of 900,000 residents in the four surrounding counties; the nu her of uncentrolled releases and the resulting offsite dose rates; the potential explosiveness of the bubble in the reactor vessel; and the publicized confusion and lack of cor=tnication will all adversely in fluenc e the public's perception of the liRC's ability to ensure the safe operation and shutdcun of nuclear facilities.
potentially the most cericus impact cn the future of the nuclear industry.cill be a revised political p :rccption of the role of nuclear energy in the over all cnergy sceneri o.
Hearings held by variots ccagres sicn al cor.uit tees to cssos s the full signi ficance of the T:il-2 159 083 4
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. i accident util probably rerult both in proposed legislation to s tragthen t'a e regulatory eversight of nuclear plants and a dininished role for the nuclear cptica in the future.
Political responsiveness to anti-nuclear ir.itiatives eill be greater.
Finally, the bottem line will be the impact of TMI-2 accident on the econcatcs of nuclear pc Jer.
For General Public Utilities, th e a rgtrue n t s relative to their ability to pass on the accident costs to their custocers is critical to their solvency, and will be a landmark decisien. The analysis of the nII-2 accident will result in increased regulatory requireacnts and increased inspection cf both operating and plants under construction. The licensing process for plants presently under review will be further ecuplicated by additional new eequirements and delays; intervention will be more frequent; and the cost of building, licensing and operating a nucIcar plant will no lorger be an att"crive alternative.
In su=ary the i= pact of the ntI-2 accident on the future of nuclear pcwer will be to diuinish the confidence of the public in the safety of nuclear plants, li: nit the role of nuclear in the tota'. energy strategy, strengthen the regulatory cversight, and make the nuclear optica prchi'aitively e:: pensive.
159 084
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