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Oct. 30, 1969
October 30, 1969
President’s Commission releases its report
Three years after the meltdown of the Fermi atomic plant near Detroit, the President’s Commission on the Fermi Nuclear Disaster has released a 350-page report of its findings. Hans Bethe, the lead scientist on the committee and an expert on fast breeder reactors, led the commission. The report details the causes of the accident and the effects on the environment and health resulting from the release of radiation.
Among the findings was that the accident was not the result of human error on the part of plant personnel. The most plausible explanation is that a design flaw caused a piece of metal to dislodge and block the flow of coolant, causing overheating and meltdown of the reactor. The report concluded that this design flaw could be easily corrected in subsequent reactor designs.
However, the report criticizes the AEC’s handling of the construction and planning of the plant, and concludes that fundamental changes are necessary to prevent future accidents. The report also criticizes federal and state officials for their muddled response to the disaster, misleading and inaccurate information given to the public, and the disorderly evacuation. [1][2]