Congress should increase financial protection to the public from accidents at DOE nuclear operations
In the event of a nuclear accident at a Department of Energy (DOE) facility, liability protection for public injury would be covered by the Price-Anderson Act. The act establishes the sources and amount of funds to cover public injury and provides a basis for relatively speedy compensation. The act also limits the amount of funds that are readily available for compensation. GAO believes that since it is the Nation's policy to foster the continued development of nuclear power, the protection provided DOE contractors by the Price-Anderson Act is needed, especially since alternative methods for insuring the public against the potential hazard of a catastrophic nuclear accident do not provide as much financial protection as does the Price-Anderson Act. In GAO's opinion, public protection under the Price-Anderson Act should be increased for DOE contractor operations. Certain provisions in the Price-Anderson Act and its implementation: (1) serve to provide less public financial protection from accidents occurring at DOE contractor-operated facilities than at licensed commercial facilities; and (2) may not adequately protect the public from the financial consequences of a catastrophic nuclear accident. Finally, the act does not clearly establish whether evacuation costs in all cases would be covered. GAO recommends that the Congress correct these problems.
- Research Organization:
- Comptroller General of the United States, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 5698089
- Report Number(s):
- EMD-81-111; ON: DE82902371
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACCIDENTS
CIVIL LIABILITY
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INSURANCE
LAWS
LIABILITIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR INSURANCE
POPULATIONS
PRICE-ANDERSON ACT
RECOMMENDATIONS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS