Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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children affected by the Chernobyl disaster, depending upon the levels
of the radioactive contamination in the area where they lived or
continue to live.
CURRENT CHORNOBYL PROBLEMS AND PRIORITIES
No matter how complex reasons of the accident are, first and
foremost, it's certain that they are due to shortcomings of the
construction which let
the source of utmost danger be operated with
inadequate safety system. These circumstances in conjunction with
low-quality regulatory documentation were among the main reasons of
the accident.
Over past years a complex of measures has been taken to
improve construction of the reactor's separate units and nuclear,
radiation and fire safety as well as to improve the quality of
operational documentation, which helped to increase reactor and plant
safety.
There have been laid the foundations for nuclear legislation of
Ukraine and independent bodies for the state regulation of nuclear and
radiation safety created. All of this contributes to safety in using
nuclear energy in general.
The dgcommisaioning of C>)nrnnbyl NPP is
an issue of COncem
to many in the world. With regard to this matter, as recently as on
April 18 the Ukrainian Parliament, at Its hearings, reconfirmed our
intentions to decommission the Chornobyl NPP by the year of 2000
laid down in the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between