Quality assurance and protecting the environment

It is argued that the difficulties inhibiting the wider use of nuclear power as an environmentally attractive option are attributable to a significant measure to insufficient attention to quality assurance and related engineering standards. The problems encountered in applying quality assurance to nuclear plants are examined. It is emphasized that protecting the environment in the fullest sense imposes demands on commercial nuclear power which go beyond the imperatives of assuring that plants operate safely. In order to take advantage of the environmental benefits which nuclear power offers, nuclear plants generally must operate at the high levels of reliability which the best plants have demonstrated. Prior experience must be brought to bear fully so that plants of advanced design will be brought into operation with greater assurance of safe and reliable operation than was experienced in many earlier efforts. Doing these things, one can be confident that the return to nuclear power, when it comes, will provide the nation with a badly needed energy option which measures up to its immense potential