The TMI-2 clean-up project collection and databases

Going Critical

“…Despite heavy criticism that the agency focused more on promoting nuclear power than regulating it, the AEC served as the primary government agency responsible for regulating and promoting nuclear technologies. 11 The 1954 amendment to the Atomic Energy Act attempted to expedite the construction of nuclear power plants by granting utility companies interested in developing nuclear power plants access to large amounts of fissionable material and advanced research regarding nuclear technology. 12 As such, the Atomic Energy Act created the basic framework for the often complex relationship between the nuclear power industry and the federal government.…”

“…11 The 1954 amendment to the Atomic Energy Act attempted to expedite the construction of nuclear power plants by granting utility companies interested in developing nuclear power plants access to large amounts of fissionable material and advanced research regarding nuclear technology. 12 As such, the Atomic Energy Act created the basic framework for the often complex relationship between the nuclear power industry and the federal government. To further encourage the development of nuclear power, Congress passed the Price-Anderson Act in 1957.…”

“…This commission consisted of a number of representatives from a variety of nuclear-related fields. 46 Based around the promotion of "fundamental changes" in the "organization, procedures, and practices…of the NRC," the final report of the Kemeny Commission focused on the reformation of federal nuclear oversight organizations and their role in determining industry regulations. 47 Specifically, the Commission focused on the role of human error in the Three Mile Island accident by identifying it as the result of poor training, confusing regulations, and a mindset in the industry and the NRC that placed a heavy emphasis on maintaining equipment rather than on improving human abilities.…”

“…68 However, the failure of nuclear utilities to order the construction of even a single reactor or power plant since 1979 indicated that this proposal, and others like it, failed to renew commercial interest in the development of nuclear power. 69 The NRC further augmented its licensing reform efforts through an attempt to streamline the licensing process. To accomplish this, the NRC adopted new policies intended to help reduce the nearly decade-long process involved in securing an operating license for a nuclear power plant.…”

“…This indicates that at least half of all power plants that reported data experienced zero emergency shutdowns in 2001. 79 As such, the reforms created by the NRC following the Three Mile Island accident helped facilitate the transformation of the nuclear power industry into a safer and more reliable endeavor, while also allowing nuclear power to remain a prominent source of energy for the United States. 80 As such, the study of the reforms mentioned above allows one to understand the development of the nuclear power industry in the United States.…”