On This Day

Three Mile Island

On March 28, 1979, the U. S. has it's worst nuclear power industry accident. A pressure valve in the Unit-2 reactor fails to close, which releases cooling water contaminated with radiation, from the open valve into adjoining buildings. The core began to dangerously overheat. Human error causes the emergency system to be shut off.

Plant operators where finally able to cool down the core. Plant workers were exposed to unhealthy levels of radiation, but no one outside the plant was affected.

In the years since the accident at Three Mile Island, there has not been a new nuclear power plant ordered in the United States.