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RESOLUTION and PETITION
to the United States Congress
REGARDING THE PRICE ANDERSON ACTI oppose the expected rubber stamp renewal of The Price-Anderson Act when it is presented at the next congressional session and demand that a serious study be conducted to determine the morality, efficacy, and constitutionality of this act for the following reasons:
The Price-Anderson Act was enacted nearly half a century ago when it was believed that nuclear power would present a safe, clean, inexpensive energy alternative. We have learned since then that the opposite is true.
Congress enacted the Price-Anderson Act in 1957 to establish a means to ensure that adequate funds would be available to the public to satisfy liability claims in the event of a nuclear incident. It does not. On careful examination and according to the government's own estimates, The Price Anderson Act excuses nuclear generators from all but a tiny fraction of the damages which could result from a major nuclear accident.
The Act was also enacted in order to remove a major deterrent to private sector participation in nuclear activities that would arise from the threat of potentially enormous liability claims. Despite the claims made for "safe" and "clean", no utility was willing to build a reactor without the protection of this law.
In view of the fact that the 43 year old Price-Anderson Act was created for the purpose of encouraging the development of nuclear power and, in view of the fact that not a single reactor has been built or ordered since 1978 (nor is it likely that any new reactors will be built given the strong public opposition to nuclear power), the Price-Anderson Act must be considered useless and erroneous. It neither protects the public, nor will it effectively promote more development of nuclear power.
The refusal to accept full responsibility for actions which cause harm to others is unethical and distinctly defines an attitude of gross irresponsibility.
The consequences of a major nuclear accident would threaten the lives of millions, and would render vast areas of land unfit for habitation for hundreds or thousands of years, threatening the viability of the entire economy as well as the health and welfare of the current and future public.
The Price-Anderson Act provides for the avoidance of complete responsibility in order to promote the agenda of a politically favored commercial enterprise at the expense of the public's safety and well-being.
The Price Anderson Act gives the Nuclear Regulatory Commission complete and irrevocable powers in distributing damages in a manner that abrogates fair due process. In effect, it deprives American citizens of due process and constitutes a direct attack on the civil liberty of all Americans. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has shown itself to be biased in favor of the industry it is supposed to regulate.
The Price Anderson Act is extended to foreign reactors built by American contractors. This greatly adds to the problem of uncontrolled nuclear weapons proliferation, since the fission byproducts of nuclear plant operation can be used to arm atomic weapons and the triggers for hydrogen bombs.
The Price Anderson Act applies a statute of limitations for illnesses (like cancer), caused by an accident, and victims of such diseases will be rendered ineligible for any compensation whatsoever after the limiting date expires. This will deprive them of any remedy for damage since most cancers take longer to develop than the statute of limitations in the Act.
There is reason to believe that a United States Supreme Court decision which upheld the Constitutionality of the Price Anderson Act (in 1978) was based on the acceptance of fraudulent arguments presented by the nuclear industry.
The Price Anderson Act encourages a lessening of quality control and diligent execution of design, operation, and maintenance by nuclear contractors and operators, which increases the likelihood of great harm to the environment, the economy, and health of the general population.
The use of plutonium MOX fuel in reactors will increase the likelihood of a major accident, both in the United States and in Russia. Russia (as well as American utilities) is being urged to use MOX plutonium fuel.
The Price Anderson Act in effect has discouraged the development of alternative safer sources of energy which are much less costly to the American taxpaying utility rate payer, as the direct and hidden costs of nuclear plants have proved to be astronomical.
In view of the evidence presented by a long history of serious accidents (Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Windscale, Tokai, and others) the nuclear industry continues to claim that there is essentially no risk of a serious nuclear accident.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved:
1. The Price Anderson Act must not be renewed.
2. Nuclear Contractors and Operators must assume full responsibility for all damages to the public, without any statute of limitations
3. The Supreme Court’s 1978 decision should be investigated and challenged.
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