Nuclear Power Safety

Since the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident in 1986, over 70 of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 112 member states have adopted two conventions to enhance international cooperation by providing (1) timely notification of an accident and (2) emergency assistance. The Agency and other international organizations also developed programs to improve nuclear power plant safety and minimize dangers from radioactive contamination. Despite meaningful improvements, some of the measures have limitations, and serious nuclear safety problems remain in the design and operation of the older, Soviet-designed nuclear power plants. The Agency's ability to select reactors under its operational safety review program is limited. Also, information on the extent and seriousness of safety-related incidents at reactors in foreign countries is not publicly available. No agreements exist among nuclear power countries to make compliance with any nuclear safety standards or principles mandatory. Currently, adherence to international safety standards or principles is voluntary and nonbinding. Some states support the concept of mandatory compliance, but others, including the United States, believe that mandatory compliance infringes on national sovereignty and that the responsibility for nuclear reactor safety remains with each nation.

GAO found that: (1) after the Chernobyl accident, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) member states adopted two conventions to enhance international cooperation through timely notification and emergency assistance; (2) despite improvements, serious nuclear safety problems still exist at Soviet-designed nuclear power plants; (3) IAEA, its member states, the Nuclear Energy Agency, and nuclear industry organizations exchange operational safety information to help prevent accidents, but information on safety-related incidents at reactors in foreign countries is not made available to the public; (4) no agreement exists to make compliance with nuclear safety standards mandatory; (5) adherence to IAEA safety standards is voluntary, and the United States believes that mandatory compliance infringes on national sovereignty; (6) IAEA and other international organizations developed programs to improve nuclear power plant safety and minimize dangers from radioactive contamination; and (7) IAEA conducts Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) missions to inspect and assess nuclear power plant safety and offer suggestions for improvement, but since such reviews occur only at the host country's request, IAEA has reviewed only 15 percent of the world's operating power reactors.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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