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October 2007

Key Facts

• After investigating the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island, the Kemeny Commission recommended that the U.S. nuclear energy industry “set and police its own standards of excellence.” Within nine months of the accident, the industry formed the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) to promote excellence in nuclear power plant operations, including the training of personnel.
• The nuclear industry established a comprehensive system of personnel training and qualification. It created the National Academy for Nuclear Training to integrate the training programs of INPO, the training efforts of all U.S. nuclear energy companies and the independent activities of the National Nuclear Accrediting Board.
• The industry’s training programs have been extremely successful. Since 1979, the number of professional training staff and the space dedicated to training activities have increased. The investments in training have yielded significant improvements in nuclear power plant safety and reliability in the past 25 years.
• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has fulfilled its regulatory responsibilities through continuing oversight of nuclear plant programs, inspections, enforcement actions and oversight of the industry’s accreditation process.
• The NRC issued a training rule in April 1993 that recognized the industry’s training and accreditation efforts.
• In February 1994, the NRC issued a rule that allows each nuclear power plant operating company—rather than the agency—to conduct the requalification examination for licensed operators every two years.

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