House panel takes up nuke plant liability
USA 2oct01

The U.S. nuclear power industry says the measure - set to expire in August 2002 - is crucial before any new plants can be built.

The Price-Andersen law obligates the federal government to accept insurance liability to shield U.S. nuclear power plant owners from up to $9.4 billion in liability in the event of an accident.

The House Energy and Air Quality subcommittee, chaired by Texas Republican Joe Barton, will mark up legislation Thursday. The full committee has not yet scheduled a bill-writing session, the staffer said.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has yet to draft a bill that would extend the law.

With Congress aiming to adjourn in late October, it is unclear whether the nuclear power measure will be addressed by both chambers this session.

The Bush administration's national energy plan emphasizes nuclear power as an important and clean energy source for the future, a view opposed by many environmental groups and some Democrats.

Key regulatory agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Energy Department have already backed a renewal of the law without any substantial changes.

Critics argue that no other U.S. industry receives such generous protection from financial risks.

No new nuclear plants have been built in the United States since the 1979 accident at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant, where the failure of the plant's water cooling system led to the partial melting of a reactor's uranium core.

Nuclear power currently produces about 20 percent of all U.S. electricity.