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A sequence of events similar to those that devastated a Japanese nuclear complex is unlikely to occur in this country, and U.S. nuclear plants can be operated safely, federal regulators concluded following an inquiry into March’s Fukushima accident.

U.S. nuclear power plants can continue to operate safely, a federal task force found. (Photo By: DOE)

However, regulatory improvements are needed, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Japan Task Force said in a July 13 report. The staff group offered 12 recommendations, suggesting they would ensure plant protection, enhance accident mitigation, strengthen emergency preparedness and improve NRC program efficiency.

The recommendations included proposed requirements for upgraded seismic and flooding protection, strengthening plants’ ability to deal with prolonged loss of power and development of emergency plans for events involving multiple reactors.

The task force emphasized that effective NRC action is essential, with voluntary industry initiatives “no substitute” for commission oversight.

NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko indicated that the commission should provide “clear direction” within 90 days. This could entail taking interim steps on the issues identified, he specified, while initiating “longer-term rulemakings that will allow for full and meaningful participation by the public.”

Jaczko called on NRC and the nuclear industry “to commit to complete and implement the process of learning and applying” the accident’s lessons by 2016.

However, at a July 19 meeting, Commissioner William Ostendorff took issue with one of the report’s recommendations—to replace a “patchwork of regulations,” developed incrementally over the decades, with a “logical, systematic and coherent regulatory framework.”

“While I fully support thoughtful consideration of any potential safety enhancements … I personally do not believe that our existing regulatory framework is broken,” he said.

Speaking at the same session, Commissioner Kristine Svinicki suggested that the report’s language could be construed as “a repudiation” of NRC’s decades-long approach of focusing regulation on areas of highest risk.

Meanwhile, the industry’s trade association, the Nuclear Energy Institute, expressed concern that “the task force’s use of phrases such as ‘patchwork of regulatory requirements’ undermines the comprehensive body of regulatory requirements imposed by NRC.”

“After the necessary and appropriate analyses are conducted by the NRC staff, the commission should expect the staff to justify the value of any new or revised requirements consistent with NRC standard practice,” wrote Marvin Fertel, NEI’s CEO.

“We certainly should wait for all of the findings from Fukushima prior to mandating changes,” agreed John Holt, NRECA manager of generation and fuels.

“NRC has a process of looking for solutions to problems, getting staff and public input prior to releasing new regulations,” Holt noted. “This has worked in the past, and should be retained.”

Tags: Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Power Plants