Key Issues
The TMI 2 Accident: Its Impact, Its Lessons
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No Injuries, No Measurable Health Effects
The TMI accident caused no injuries, and at least a dozen epidemiological studies conducted since 1981 have found no discernible direct health effects to the population in the vicinity of the plant. (For details, see the appendix that follows this fact sheet.)
A federal appeals court in December 2003 dismissed the consolidated cases of 2,000 plaintiffs seeking damages against the plant’s former owners for health problems they alleged the accident caused. The court said the plaintiffs had failed to present evidence they had received a radiation dose large enough to cause possible health effects.
Decades of research and scientific studies have shown no negative health effects on the population surrounding the plant.
People who suffered financial losses as a result of the precautionary evacuation following the incident were promptly paid, demonstrating the effectiveness of the industry’s liability insurance protection under the Price-Anderson Act. In addition, businesses were compensated for loss of revenue, and the state and local community were compensated for the expenses incurred during the response to the threat.
TMI 2 Placed in Monitored Storage
After cleaning up the damaged TMI 2 reactor, GPU Nuclear placed it in monitored storage in December 1993. In December 1999, GPU sold TMI 1 to AmerGen Energy Co., a joint venture of Exelon and British Energy Co. British Energy subsequently sold its interest in TMI 1 to Exelon.
Under the terms of the sale, GPU retained ownership of TMI 2. GPU subsequently merged with FirstEnergy, making FirstEnergy financially responsible for the decommissioning of TMI 2. In-plant and off-site monitoring of TMI 2 will continue until it is fully decommissioned, with regular reports made to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the public.
The two reactors will be decommissioned jointly when TMI 1 is taken out of service.
No Injuries, No Measurable Health Effects
The TMI accident caused no injuries, and at least a dozen epidemiological studies conducted since 1981 have found no discernible direct health effects to the population in the vicinity of the plant. (For details, see the appendix that follows this fact sheet.)
A federal appeals court in December 2003 dismissed the consolidated cases of 2,000 plaintiffs seeking damages against the plant’s former owners for health problems they alleged the accident caused. The court said the plaintiffs had failed to present evidence they had received a radiation dose large enough to cause possible health effects.
Decades of research and scientific studies have shown no negative health effects on the population surrounding the plant.
People who suffered financial losses as a result of the precautionary evacuation following the incident were promptly paid, demonstrating the effectiveness of the industry’s liability insurance protection under the Price-Anderson Act. In addition, businesses were compensated for loss of revenue, and the state and local community were compensated for the expenses incurred during the response to the threat.
TMI 2 Placed in Monitored Storage
After cleaning up the damaged TMI 2 reactor, GPU Nuclear placed it in monitored storage in December 1993. In December 1999, GPU sold TMI 1 to AmerGen Energy Co., a joint venture of Exelon and British Energy Co. British Energy subsequently sold its interest in TMI 1 to Exelon.
Under the terms of the sale, GPU retained ownership of TMI 2. GPU subsequently merged with FirstEnergy, making FirstEnergy financially responsible for the decommissioning of TMI 2. In-plant and off-site monitoring of TMI 2 will continue until it is fully decommissioned, with regular reports made to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the public.
The two reactors will be decommissioned jointly when TMI 1 is taken out of service.
