Third party liability for nuclear damage

Abstract

Basic principles of nuclear liability legislation are discussed including absolute and limited liability and the role of the Sovereign State in identifying the operator for damage in excess of limited liability. European countries realised the need for unifying the law of nuclear liability and efforts were made accordingly towards producing workable international conventions. The world's first legislation on nuclear liability - the USA Price-Anderson Act - is described in detail and digest of nuclear liability claims experience is given. Observations of the present status of nuclear third party liability are outlined.