Editorial: Nuclear reactors still have problems

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 | 9:24 a.m.

Shortly after the 1979 meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, the nuclear power industry created the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. This internal oversight group shares knowledge among nuclear power experts in an effort to prevent future accidents. Typically the group's reports are kept confidential, but last week that confidentiality was breached -- thank goodness. The New York Times revealed that a confidential report by the oversight group, issued on Nov. 11, had warned utilities that too much emphasis on production -- and "a lack of sensitivity to nuclear safety" -- had endangered an Ohio reactor and could signal a similar mind-set at plants elsewhere in the nation.

Extensive corrosion at the Davis-Besse reactor near Toledo, Ohio, went undetected at the reactor until March of this year, a failure that led to 70 pounds of steel being eaten away and left the reactor vessel vulnerable to rupturing. Not only should the industry act upon this internal report, but Congress also should hold hearings to investigate what steps utilities are taking to ensure that they're operating safely.

It also is troubling that this is the same industry that is lobbying Congress to pass legislation that would make taxpayers liable for cleanup if a catastrophic accident caused more than $10 billion in damage at a nuclear power plant. There was no reason before to give the nuclear power industry government-subsidized insurance, and this latest report shows yet again why such a guarantee is exactly the wrong message to send to nuclear power operators, one that won't encourage an emphasis on safety over profits.