Obama orders safety review of nuclear plants

President Barack Obama speaks about Japan in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, March, 17, 2011. (AP/Photo)

/ AP/Photo

Updated at 4:24 p.m. ET

In the wake of the disaster in Japan, President Obama announced today he has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to perform a comprehensive review of the safety of domestic nuclear plants.

The nation's nuclear power plants have already undergone exhaustive study, Mr. Obama said today from the White House, and have been declared safe. Further, he added that nuclear power remains an important part of the future of the United States' energy portfolio, along with wind, solar, natural gas and clean coal.

Still, Mr. Obama said, "When we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event, and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people." (watch at left)

The United States yesterday authorized the first evacuations of Americans out of Japan as the nation works to recover from last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami and deal with the unfolding nuclear issues. The damage to the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant "poses a substantial risk to people who are nearby," Mr. Obama said today, adding that the evacuation of citizens within a 50-mile radius of the plant was "based upon a careful scientific evaluation."

Beyond the 50-mile radius, the risks do not currently call for an evacuation, Mr. Obama said, but he nevertheless authorized the voluntary departure of family members and dependents of U.S. officials working in northeastern Japan.

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Trace amounts of radiation from Japan have been detected in Chicago, according to CBS News station WBBM-TV, but Mr. Obama said today that Americans on U.S. soil should be safe.

"I want to be very clear, we do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United States, whether it's the west coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific," he said. "That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts." (watch at left)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health experts do not recommend that people in the United States take precautionary measures beyond staying informed, he said.

"In going forward, we will continue to keep the American people fully updated because I believe that you must know what I know as president," Mr. Obama said.

The United States is working aggressively to help Japan, "one of our closest friends and allies in the world," the president said. The U.S. has already flown hundreds of hundreds of missions to support the recovery efforts and distributed thousands of pounds of food and water to the Japanese people. U.S. nuclear experts are also on the ground to help contain the damage at the impacted reactors.

"We're sharing with them expertise, equipment and technology so that the courageous responders on the scene have the benefit of American teamwork and support," Mr. Obama said.

Meanwhile, American citizens are donating to organizations assisting the relief efforts, such as the Red Cross. Those interested in helping should visit USAid.gov, Mr. Obama said.

The president spoke with the Japanese prime minister on Wednesday night and today visited the Japanese embassy in Washington to express the United States' solidarity with Japan. (watch at left)

"In the midst of economic recovery and global upheaval, disasters like this remind us of the common humanity that we share," he said today. "We see it in the responders who are risking their lives at Fukushima, [and] we show it through the help that has poured into Japan from 70 countries."

22 Photos

U.S. relief crews in Japan

[Empire--George---]

This is so typical of a liberal......just make an announcement, pretending to show you care, so all of your followers say "he cares, he's doing something about the problem" when in reality, the clown is doing nothing and has done nothing about everything......but he didn't forget to hold a news conference to announce his personal college picks for basketball.

Symbolism over substance.....kind of like the gulf, "I'm kicking ass" while zero ***** were kicked.

[1American]

Let's look a litle closer shall we? No more drilling in the Gulf (you can drill but not produce what you find) No drilling what so ever in ANWR or the BAKKEN ranges. More gas and oil drilling restrictions considered in the lower 48. EPA attempting, by regulation, to shut down all coal-fired power plants. Now a "new" inspection of all nuclear power plants. Does anyone see a pattern here?

[skyk2012]

In the wake of the disaster in Japan, President Obama announced today he has asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to perform a comprehensive review of the safety of domestic nuclear plants.


The nation's nuclear power plants have already undergone exhaustive study, Mr. Obama said today from the White House, and have been declared safe. Further, he added that nuclear power remains an important part of the future of the United States' energy portfolio, along with wind, solar, natural gas and clean coal.

So why then are you ordering a "comprehensive review" unless it is just a publicty stunt or a CYA.

[JavMD]

I don't know in other areas, but in my township in Ohio, the local 'government' owns the 'water-sewer' infrastructure. Why does not the 'government' own the 'electricity' grid? In the next town over, Painesville and Cleveland has a 'muncipal' electric company.

Out in the country, there is Rural Electric coops, not sure if tied to 'governments.

I say 'nationalize' the electric. We take way too many chances with companies trying to save a dime and make a profit at the risk to the public. AT LEAST do it for NUKE plants !

[JavMD]

NRC does have two inspectors at each plant. I use to work 25 years in nuclear. see www.nrc.gov
reading that stuff, daily nuke occurances.. is scary, nuke operators can't pass the pee test for drugs.. etc

[jimbom121]

Sorry, the Koch Brothers won't stand for a nationalized electric grid.

[dim_public]

I'm sure we all feel much safer and re-assured with our own environment and lives in the hands of the big corporations that own US nuclear facilities. See how transparent and responsible big oil was in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.... I'm already feeling so much better in thinking about our own privatized nuclear facilities.

[thanksgreed]

You don't think they'd LIE to us do you?

[JavMD]

(OBama.. speaking under his breath)... now let me get back to March madness !!!

[Tpartywarrior]

You mean our president did something besides play golf and make his March Madness picks? OMG!
O ne
B ig
A wful
M istake
A merica

[sfopine]

If you watched anything besides Fox News you'd realize just how ignorant your comment is. Learn something!

[JavMD]

wait.. Sfopine' (comment above),... are you saying he didn't hold a press conference to announce his March Madness picks? (or play golf earlier? Lousy media... holding back the truth again, what do I got to do.. watch the BBC

[dim_public]

Next up on nightly news: Republicons debunk the 'myth' of nuclear energy, along with all of the other lies that science has taught us.

[JavMD]

....'lies that science has taught us", (comment above)...

=========
wow, I'm sure glad.. poop doesn't flow downhill now...

thanks.. I always thought science was just fancy 'witchcraft'.. I'm sure the Japanese villages would just rather fish and burn dung

[jgg000101]

I would have thought comprehensive reviews of our nuclear facilities were standard operating procedure and conducted routinely.

[JavMD]

sorry 'jgg000101'

COMPREHENSIVE reviews are only done on special occasions... see the San Onofre plant continues to operate from 1970s design, for a quake at 7. Yet we know for last 6 years, the pacific rim, Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and now Japan has seen.. well.. just a 100-200 times more powerful.

Got to watch the pro nukes, they are playing games IMMEDIATELY by not DISCUSSING Quake numbers.. now its "G" forces... Google the Japan plant name beginning with the letter F and wiki, BOOM they 'revised' it quickly

[catmomtx]

So then they probably weren't done on Bush's watch either. Now that this has happened in Japan, this President has decided to do something. Thank goodness he isn't ignoring information brought to him prior to something happening. You remember the daily briefing and 9/11, don't you?

[noloyalisti]

Who deemed the plants safe, the coyotes guarding the chicken coop? Since the disaster of Reagan and privatization, there has been a steady decline in the government overseeing the giant corporations who do not care about safety or human life (or any other life for that matter).

[JavMD]

well, we do have ..for example 'BANK regulations' and we know they were asleep at the wheel,... we do have the NRC... google and read Millstone Time Magazine article. NRC admitted dropping the ball for public safety... Regulations are in place but POOR inspection ENFORCEMENTS...

EVEN CONGRESS has dropped the ball. For example: Congressman Barney 'Fife' Franks, charge with oversight banks.. Said just a few years ago in public testimony chastise regulators that Freddie and Fannie Mae were fine ! JUST WEdnesday, Senator Boxer dropped the ball, she was SO CLOSE, and yet did not DEMAND the NRC act immediately ! merely.. respond to my letter, respond to my letter.

FINALLY today Obama announces.. guess we're do a review... a uh, a uh

[CuriousServant]

This isn't about Obama trying to look good. This is about reassuring the public about what is known, and what we know we need to do to keep Americans safe (congress doesn't want to spend the money needed).

Bush played a lot more golf, got a lot less done than our current president. I am a registered Republican, but I am about to switch parties because I am so tired of their spin, exaggeration, rewarding business and those who funded their campaigns, lies, and deceit.

I am ashamed of the Republican party, and the hate comments here are typical of that mind set.

What happened to showing respect to each other? Regardless of who is president, or anyone in office for that matter, they deserve some respect. They represent US. If you must disagree, please stick to the facts, speak kindly, civilly, courteously.

[sfopine]

Good comment CS. I have to admit I find increasingly difficult to be civil in the face of rampant ignorance and the failure of Republicans to acknowledge the President for anything positive, and there is plenty regardless of what they spout. They damn him if he does or doesn't -- even if they agree with him. The world seems to have gone crazy! **sigh**

[catmomtx]

Thank you. Things like this need to be said and said often.

Republicans/conservatives/right wing/tea party have totally disrespected this President and the office of the President of the United States. I'm sure if Republicans should ever regain the Presidency they would never, ever tolerate the antics and tactics they have been using for the past two years in their attempt to destroy an American citizen who was elected by the majority of Americans to be President.