alternatehistory.com

November 1, 1966

Detroiters seek damages for Fermi disaster

As the Fermi cleanup continues, many people are wondering if Michigan will receive compensation for injuries and property damage caused by the meltdown. Under current law, those evacuated from around the Fermi plant may only receive pennies on the dollar for their contaminated properties. The Price-Anderson Act, passed in 1957, places a total limit of $560 million in liability on the operator of atomic plants.[1] Private insurance does not cover damage caused by nuclear meltdowns.[2] This means that individuals injured by the meltdown and affected property owners may be out of luck.

According to a 1957 report prepared by the AEC, damage from a nuclear accident could be in excess of $7 billion. In May, Rep. James Kee (D-WV) criticized the Price-Anderson Act as being inadequate in the event of a nuclear accident. “As the (Price-Anderson) law now stands, the injured members of the public will have no recourse for the amount of damages they will suffer in the excess of the $560 million fund.” [3] At the time, industry critics cynically suggested that Kee’s criticisms of atomic power were the result of his home state’s powerful coal lobby.

Political pressure to authorize disaster relief funds for cleanup and compensation has been met with opposition from many in Congress, who believe that funds will be diverted from projects intended to benefit their constituents. The economic slowdown and mounting costs in Vietnam have led many to question whether there will be enough money in the budget to spare for Michigan’s disaster relief. Yesterday, the Dow Jones Index closed below 700 for the first time since 1961, a fall of 30% from a high of 995 on February 9. [4]