Lessons to be learned from nuclear meltdowns
This is a response to “Refineries have history of safety violations” [page one, April 3].
After the Three Mile Island meltdown, the U.S. nuclear industry, led by the NRC, undertook the most comprehensive, thorough and expensive safety-improvement program ever conducted.
All aspects of nuclear power plants that could affect safety were examined and upgraded as found necessary. Some examples — by no means all —include operator training and qualification, safety systems adequacy, information exchange among the operating companies, maintenance practices and quality assurance programs.
The underlying philosophy was defense in depth, meaning provisions must be in place to counteract any event, such as operator error or instrument failure, that could lead to an accident.
Was the program effective? U.S. reactors have had an outstanding safety record since then. No people hurt, no environmental damage, no reactors wrecked.
Should a similar program be undertaken for our nation’s oil refineries?
— Clark McKee, Anacortes