The INPO organization was formed in 1979 in the wake of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident. A number of US industry leaders recognized that the industry must do a better job of policing itself to ensure that an event of this magnitude should never happen again. INPO was formed to establish standards of excellence against which the plants are measured. An inspection of each member plant is typically performed every 18-24 months. The Institute’s programs include:

• SEE-IN (an information sharing network)

• EPIX (an equipment failure database)

• National Academy for Nuclear Training

• Events analysis

• Human performance

• Accreditation

• Evaluations.

Information regarding INPO as well as the Nuclear Energy Institute, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the World Association of Nuclear Operators can be found at WANO (2010).