Key Issues

Enhancing Safety at America’s
Nuclear Energy Facilities

The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeast Japan led to a severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy facility. Within days, the U.S. nuclear energy industry began taking steps based on lessons learned from the events in Japan to further enhance the safety of American reactors

The U.S. nuclear energy industry responded within days of the accident in Japan, inspecting plants to ensure they could withstand similar extreme natural events. In addition, the entire industry adopted a strategy to ensure that lessons learned in Japan are applied quickly and effectively at America’s reactors. This “FLEX” strategy addresses the major problems encountered in Japan—the loss of power to maintain effective cooling—by stationing another layer of backup equipment in multiple locations, both at plant sites and in other secure locations. This flexible approach builds on existing safety systems to protect against unforeseen events of all kinds.

Every company that operates a nuclear power plant has committed to order new backup emergency equipment. More than 300 pieces of safety equipment already have been installed or ordered.

Following its evaluation of American facilities, the independent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission declared that the plants pose no imminent danger. To further strengthen plants’ ability to withstand extreme events, the agency will require U.S. facilities to install additional instruments to monitor used fuel storage pools, to develop strategies to prevent damage from external events that may affect multiple reactors at a site and, for some reactors, to install hardened vents. The NRC also is asking for more information on seismic and flooding issues, on availability of communications equipment, and emergency response staffing for incidents that affect multiple reactors.

• White Paper: Making Safe Nuclear Energy Safer
• Fact Sheets
  • An Integrated, Safety-Focused Approach to Expediting Implementation of Fukushima Daiichi Lessons-Learned
  • Safety: U.S. Nuclear Energy Industry Responds to Accident in Japan
  • Safety: The Nuclear Energy Industry's Highest Priority
  • Emergency Planning: Emergency Preparedness at Nuclear Energy Facilities
  • Safety: U.S. Nuclear Energy Facilities Built to Withstand Earthquakes
  • Nuclear Energy Facilities Reassess Potential Flooding Hazards
  • Enhancing Seismic Safety Based on Fukushima Lessons Learned
  • Through the Decades: History of US Nuclear Energy Facilities Responding to Extreme Natural Challenges
  • After Fukushima, Industry Takes Additional Steps to Protect Public Safety

• Report: Industry Actions at U.S. Reactors to Enhance Safety Since the Fukushima Accident
• Graphics
  • Making Safe Nuclear Energy Safer After Fukushima (FLEX)
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning, Safety
  • Interactive Graphic: Nuclear Plants Withstand Nature's Fury
• Videos
  • The FLEX Solution: America's Nuclear Energy Industry Responds to Fukushima
  • Expanded FLEX Video (A more detailed overview of the nuclear industry's approach to enhancing safety.)
  • How Emergency Planning Zones Help Protect Public Health and Safety (Health Physics Society)
  • The Post-Fukushima Commitment to Nuclear Plant Safety
  • How Is the U.S. Nuclear Industry Responding to Fukushima Daiichi (FLEX)
  • U.S. Nuclear Plants Are Prepared to Deal With Emergencies Post-Fukushima (FLEX)
• New Poll Shows Americans' Support for Nuclear Energy, New Facilities Remains Solid