The nuclear industry developing today is based on well-established and fully understood technologies.

The reactors we are designing are inherently safe. They perform stably and are easily controlled. We have provided extensive design safety features and engineered safeguards.

Multiple searching and critical studies of reactor safety are made by completely independent teams of experts in both industry and govern­ment. Approval procedures for power reactors are stringent.

The systems provided for waste disposal are based on extremely conservative design criteria, and all existing regulations with respect to release are complied with by large margins.

In summary, we stand at the threshold of the nuclear industry. Be­cause the nuclear industry involves the use of radioactive materials and because Americans are increasingly interested in environmental consid­erations, we all turn a questioning eye toward the nuclear industry, asking, Has it been developed to be safe? I say it has.

There is an important ethical responsibility being directed to the nu­clear industry today — determining the proper design basis for nuclear power plants with respect to safety, keeping in mind proper and balanced use of the national economy and proper and ethical attention to the safety and well-being of the public. The industry has accepted that re­sponsibility.