1979 Rickover Testimony (5/24/1979) on Safety Philosophy

This is a significant testimony before the House Sub-committee on Energy Research and Production of the Committee on Science and Technology on May 24, 1979. This was Rickover's testimony concerning Three Mile Island (TMI) In this testimony, Rickover discusses his perspective on nuclear safety and his philosophy and approach of the Naval Reactors safety program. However, a majority of the testimony is on all aspects of naval operator training.

Basic Outline

NR Program pg 1-2

Environmental Record 2-3

Occupational Radiation Exposure 3-5

Three Mile Island 5-6

Basic Principles of NR Program 6-7

Technical Competence 7-8

Responsibility 8-10

Facing the Facts 10-11

Principles of Design Engineering 11-12

Conservatism of Design 13-16

Approach to New Reactors 17-18

Naval Nuclear Training 18-21

Mistakes Must Ne Taken into Account 21-22

Decision on Nuclear Power 22-23

Naval Nuclear Operator Training Program 24-107

Incident Reports 108-109

CO Letters 110-112