Ignorance is bliss? - Updates - Brief Article

Sierra, May-June, 2003

The American public may be concerned about a potential terrorist attack on our nuclear facilities, but the members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission apparently aren't. In December, the commissioners voted unanimously not to consider terrorism-related threats when issuing licenses for nuclear power plants.

The possibility was deemed too "speculative" to be included in analyses required by the National Environmental Policy Act for five operating reactors and two proposed facilities. (See "Lay of the Land," March/April 2003, page 11.)