Natural Resources committee  This legislation would channel all liability to the operators. It makes them completely liable for any loss up to the maximum limit in the legislation.

Natural Resources committee  Their limit of liability would be $650 million under the current act, and they would be required to carry $650 million of insurance. Beyond that they would not be liable, and they would be able to continue operating their plant with their current assets, assuming the plant was operable.

Natural Resources committee  The classical answer would be no. I guess there are countervailing arguments in the nuclear environment. We represent nuclear insurers, and we're trying to make a distinction between the limit of insurance and the outright limit of liability of the operator. I'm going to step outside the bounds of what we view as our area of expertise.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, I was.

Natural Resources committee  No, I'm sorry, I did not.

Natural Resources committee  I know I'm a lawyer, but unfortunately I have not examined that issue.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, there is a possibility. The insurers have indicated a reluctance to insure psychological trauma and claims that are brought against the operator after 10 years but before the 30-year prescription period has expired. Insurers, however, are working very hard behind the scenes to try to find a way to insure the exposure for psychological trauma.