The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Tuesday required builders of new nuclear power stations to design the reactors so they can withstand the impact from a commercial jetliner. The NRC's approval of the rule concludes more than two years of debate over the potential threat of a large aircraft crashing into a nuclear power plant. “This is a common-sense approach to address an issue raised by the tragic events of September 11, 2001,” NRC Chairman Dale Klein said in a statement. The rule was approved by the commission in a 4-to-0 vote and requires that the design of new reactors ensures that if an aircraft hit the plant, its reactor containment would remain intact, cooling systems would continue to work, and spent-fuel pools would be protected. The new regulation does not apply to the 104 commercial nuclear reactors now operating across the country.
