On March 28, 1979, the debate over nuclear power safety moved from the hypothetical to reality. An accident at Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania melted about half of the reactor’s core and for a time generated fear that widespread radioactive contamination would result. The crisis ended without a major release of dangerous forms of radiation or a need to order a general evacuation, but it pointed out that new approaches to nuclear regulation were essential. In the aftermath of the accident, the NRC placed much greater emphasis on operator training and “human factors” in plant performance, severe accidents that could occur as a result of small equipment failures (as occurred at Three Mile Island), emergency planning, plant operating histories, and other matters. For historical information on the accident at Three Mile Island go to the NRC’s website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html .
Visit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s website at http://www.nrc.gov/.
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