Report Finds Inconsistency in U.S. Nuclear Plants' Safety
A recently released safety report shows stark differences in safety protocols followed at nuclear power plants in different regions of the country.
According to recently released data regarding Nuclear Regulatory Commission figures from the Government Accountability Office, the safety of nuclear power plants in the United States varies greatly, depending on the region of the country in which the nuclear plant is located. This, according to CBS News, points to a lack of consistent safety enforcement in nuclear power plants.
The data showed that the West had the fewest reactors and also the most lower-level violations from 2000-2012—more than double the amount of violations per reactor in the Southeast region. Of all four regions, the Southeast had the least violations total.
In the West, with 21 reactors, there were 152.6 violations per reactor. In contrast, the Southeast, with 33, saw 57.1 violations per reactor. The Midwest had a rate of 131.2 violations for its 24 reactors, and the Northeast had a rate of 96.8 violations for its 26 reactors.
The NRC report suggests that the difference in violations can be laid to different rules and guidelines in each region. However, the rules could be the same but interpreted differently in each region.
According to CBS News, the NRC has not stated the reason for the differences in safety records because it has yet to fully study the findings.
For more information, visit http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57607630/nuclear-plant-safety-reports-show-wildly-varying-results/.