U.S. Weakened Nuke Rules

An Associated Press investigation of U.S. nuclear regulations has uncovered plenty to fear: Federal regulators have worked closely with the nuclear industry in order to weaken regulations so that old reactors can continue to operate. The AP says that when reactor parts or systems fail to meet the standards, the government frequently declares the rules “unnecessarily conservative” so that the reactor can function without repair. Valves, for example, are allowed to leak 20 times as much today as they once were. Eighty-two of the nation’s 104 operating reactors are more than 25 years old.