UCS Efforts in Public Policy Seek Shut Down of Reactors

The risks of nuclear power plants in the United States warrant more stringent regulation and eventual shut-down, Carla Johnston, deputy director of the Union of Concerned Scientist (UCS), told a group of about 20 students at the Radcliffe Forum yesterday.

Johnston discussed UCS's concern for responsible use of nuclear technology, citing excerpts from the "Nugget File", a government report on nuclear accidents, recently made public through the Freedom of Information act.

UCS is a nationwide organization taking a major role in public policy issues involving technology application, Johnston said. Efforts by UCS led to higher standards for nuclear reactor safety and the formation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Johnston said. She added that the government should increase subsidies for alternative energy sources.

Genesis

UCS, which started in 1969 as a faculty committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, now consists of 26 staff members and 85,000 sponsors, and publishes a quarterly newsletter, "Nucleus," periodically releases declarations of their views on public issues, Johnston said. Next week, UCS will urge the passage of SALT, "not because it is ideal but left without it we are worse off," she added.