The Magazine of the Union of Concerned Scientists Vol. The UCS study shows that the nuclear industry, with the NRC's blessing, is ignoring past problems and projecting falsely high safety levels at nuclear power plants.
Unacceptable performance is tolerated today at nuclear plants just as it was at Three Mile Island.
For example, problems at five plants were neglected for years until malfunctions or outside pressure forced the NRC to take action. A year after shutting down, those plants are still out of operation as safety repairs continue. Three Mile Island did prompt changes-the industry improved operator training programs, established comprehensive emergency response capabilities, and created an industry peer group. But recent problems in each of these areas indicate a lapse of attention.