Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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I doubt If I can today convert everyone to my views on this subject.
Rather, I Intend to retrace the path from past to present and, in so doing.
Identify some guidelines for reestablishing confidence in the nuclear
option for the United States.
The 1954 licensing legislation Included a mandate to assure safety
The American Government showed great vision in 1954 when it enacted the
"Atoms for Peace" legislation, the Atomic Energy Act. The landmark
legislation of 1954 allowed and encouraged the use of nuclear technology
here and abroad. It had two main goals— to help strengthen America's
energy security and to help maintain U.S. technical leadership. A
legislative framework was established that allowed these goals to be
achieved.
The protection of public health and safety was an integral part of the
Atomic Energy Act. Whatever was done in the name of securing economic and
strategic values for the public was not to be at the cost of new perils and
was not to create a great risk to life.
Under that legislation, the Industry is responsible for assuring that their
use of nuclear power is safe. Federal regulators are responsible for
setting basic safety standards used by the industry. Having set the rules
of the road, the role of regulation is to make sure that no segment of the
Industry cuts corners on safety in order to save money.