Industry: Build reactors to survive hit

WASHINGTON – The nuclear power industry wants the government to require companies to design new nuclear reactors that would better withstand large fires and explosions, such as those that could be caused by a terrorist attack using hijacked aircraft.

“If you need to change the design to accomodate greater security, particularly for large fires and explosions, you want to do that up front in the design process, not after you build the plant” as the government requires, said Scott Peterson, a spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute.

The industry’s position, set out in a Dec. 8 letter, runs counter to the government’s.

More than a month ago, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided to keep the current design rules