[ RadSafe ] Re: NRC says new nuclear plants should be plane-proof

[Sandy Perle]

Does anyone see the irony in the recent statement from the NRC Chairman?

In the first instance, he states that new rules are "meant to protect new
reactors against a deliberate hit by a jet like those that rammed into the
World Trade 
Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001" and then goes on to say that
current plants are adequately protected, "It will not apply to the nation's
existing 104 civilian 
nuclear power plants, which already have adequate protection."

This would imply to me that the newer designs are not inherently as safe
since new designs must consider the potential for aircraft strike. If the
current designs are adequate, I would expect that new designs would be just
as adequate, unless the NRC is considering degrading many of the current
requirements in place.

Comments anyone?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. nuclear reactor builders will likely have 
to weigh the potential for a commercial aircraft strike when they 
design new plants, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Tuesday. 
 
The NRC's proposed rules are meant to protect new reactors against a 
deliberate hit by a jet like those that rammed into the World Trade 
Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the commission said.

The proposal would apply to companies that want to build new reactors 
whose designs have not received NRC certification, a spokesman for 
the NRC said. It will not apply to the nation's existing 104 civilian 
nuclear power plants, which already have adequate protection, he 
said.

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Sandy Perle 
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