Carter nuclear-licensing reform versus Three Mile Island

The accident at Three Mile Island and the events following it modified nuclear power plant licensing procedures and incrased the state role in the siting and licensing processes to some extent, but administrative changes will be limited until legislation such as the proposed Nuclear Siting and Licensing Act (NSLA) can be passed. Until the concept of shared responsibilites contained in NSLA can be enacted, Federal and state activities will continue to overlap and often contradict, with utilities conforming to the regulations of both. By making the two levels of regulation interdependent, the proposed legislation coordinates responsibilities and eliminates unnecessary duplication. In the meantime, state nuclear regulatory actions will continue to operate outside a common framework and will make it more difficult for utilities to choose the nuclear option. 40 references