The Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident: GAO's Role

This article appeared in the GAO Review, Vol. 15, Issue 1, Winter 1980. The worst accident in the history of commercial nuclear power occured at Three Mile Island in March 1979. Since then, at least 20 different groups have been dealing with the question of what caused the situation. Many congressional committees and members have requested that GAO investigate various aspects of the accident and provide an independent analysis of the events and their implications on the future of nuclear power in the United States. Rather than launch yet another investigation, GAO will closely monitor the various industrial and governmental investigations already underway and report its overview and conclusions on the adequacy of their work and analysis. A task force has been established for this purpose and to answer inquiries and requests concerning the accident.