but but but.....nukes need yer money....

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Groups Urge Senate to Oppose Price-Anderson Nuke Insurance Rider

___________

 

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

GREENPEACE

NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SERVICE

PUBLIC CITIZEN

TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE

U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

 

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2003

 

Contacts: Lisa Gue, PC (202) 454-5130; Erich Pica, FOE (202) 789-7400

x220; Aileen Rodler, TCS (202) 546-8500 x130

 

Senate Appropriations Bill Would Extend Unwarranted Insurance Subsidies

to Proposed New Nuclear Reactors

 

Groups Urge Opposition to Price-Anderson Rider

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators should oppose a rider on the appropriations

bill that reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, an archaic nuclear power

subsidy, national environmental, public interest and taxpayer groups

said today. Eight groups signed and circulated a letter today, as the

Senate began its second day of debate on the FY2003 omnibus spending

package.

 

" This anti-consumer, anti-environment, anti-taxpayer rider has no place

in the appropriations package, " the groups wrote. " The Price-Anderson

Act represents an unfair subsidy to the nuclear industry and will not

lead to a safe, clean affordable energy future. At a time when the

public is demanding corporate accountability, the Price-Anderson Act

encourages nuclear irresponsibility. "

 

Originally enacted in 1957 as a temporary measure to jump-start the

nascent nuclear power industry, the Price-Anderson Act caps the public

liability of nuclear power plant operators. This arrangement limits

compensation available to the public in the event of an accident or

attack, while conferring a substantial annual subsidy to the nuclear

industry in terms of foregone insurance premiums. Although the

Price-Anderson Act expired on Aug. 1, 2002, existing reactors continue

to be covered by a grandfather clause. Reauthorizing the act would

extend this subsidy to proposed new reactors licensed within the next 15

years, without addressing their security vulnerabilities.

 

" If these reactor designs are as safe as the industry claims and do not

pose an undue risk to public health and safety, the industry should be

held accountable for their safety by obtaining private insurance, " said

Lisa Gue, senior energy analyst with Public Citizen.

 

Added Jill Lancelot, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, " There is

no justification for continuing this unfair subsidy to a mature

industry. Reauthorizing the Price-Anderson Act leaves the public

unprotected, nuclear operators unaccountable, and taxpayers potentially

on the hook for billions of dollars in the event of a nuclear

catastrophe. "

 

The letter can be viewed at:

http://www.citizen.org/documents/P-Aappropriationsltr.pdf.