Re: Age of design of nuclear power plants

[Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>]

Presently licensed U.S. plants were conceptually designed in the 1960s, 
and there have been many add-ons to satisfy new regulatory requirements 
during the great push for improved safety during the 1970s and following 
Three Mile Island. The new conceptual designs of the 1990s are in the 
process of being licensed generically. This process should be finished in 
the nexy two years, in plenty of time for new orders; there is no 
prospect for new plants being ordered before that.

Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


On Fri, 26 Apr 1996, Larisa Streeter wrote:

> I read a blurb on another list the other day that stated that the nuclear
> power plants in the US are all of the same age as the Chornobyl design or
> older. [This was according to a book published in 1990, so the information 
> is obviously dated.] Is this still true? Have no new designs/construction
> been approved? If so, what, if any, is the significance of this with 
> regards to nuclear plant safety?
> 
> Thanks for your input!
> 
> -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> Larisa Streeter
>     Corporate Environmental Scientist
>       Western Atlas International, Inc.
>         Houston, Texas
>           larisa@sam.neosoft.com
> 
> *** My opinion only. Use at your own risk. No warranties real or ***
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> *** My boss has already disavowed all knowledge of my actions....***
>