Price--Anderson Act: an imaginative approach to public liability concerns
Opposition to the Price-Anderson Indemnity Law is felt to be motivated by opposition to new nuclear power plant construction rather than against the insurance industry. Those who oppose nuclear power plants view them as an alternative rather than the additional source of energy needed to meet demand. The Act's historical background is reviewed, leading up to the insurance industry's conclusion that lack of actuarial statistics would prevent it from providing adequate insurance for potential liability claims. The 1957 Act was intended to provide public compensation in the event of an accident and to limit the liability of private industry. Several modifications were enacted over the years to close gaps in the original law and extend protection to new developments. Amendments were passed in 1975 that extend coverage to August 1, 1987, allow industry-financed indemnity to be substituted for government indemnity beyond the insurance available, and increase the limit of liability. Critics contend that (1) although the government has yet to pay out any claims, government indemnity amounts to a subsidy; (2) limits on liability are not reasonable if reactors are safe and licensable; and (3) liability coverage is a disincentive for reactor safety measures. These criticisms are not felt to be valid, however, and the amended bill's provisions are listed and found to be adequate. (DCK)
- Research Organization:
- Lowenstein, Newman, Reis and Axelrad, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 7308414
- Journal Information:
- Forum (Chicago); (United States), Journal Name: Forum (Chicago); (United States) Vol. 12:2; ISSN FRUMC
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Price-Anderson Act: Congressional review begins
Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1986. Report submitted to the House of Representatives, Ninety-Ninth Congress, Second Session, June 12, 1986
Related Subjects
220901 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety-- Accident Liability
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990400 -- Law
ACCIDENTS
CIVIL LIABILITY
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INSURANCE
LAWS
LEGAL ASPECTS
LEGISLATION
LIABILITIES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR INSURANCE
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
PRICE-ANDERSON ACT
PUBLIC RELATIONS
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS