Why is the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducting this study?
The NRC is conducting this study to develop the most realistic evaluations possible for the potential consequences of severe nuclear accidents. Over the years, the NRC, industry, and international nuclear safety organizations have completed substantial research on plant response to hypothetical accidents that could damage the core and containment. The results have significantly improved the NRC’s ability to analyze and predict how nuclear plant systems and operators would respond to severe accidents. Also, plant owners have enhanced their plant designs, emergency procedures, inspection and maintenance programs, and operator training, all of which have improved plant safety. Plant owners and local governments have also refined and improved their emergency preparedness measures to further protect the public in the highly unlikely event of a severe accident. By combining the new analysis methods and plant-specific data, SOARCA will improve the realism of accident consequence evaluations.
