Review of J. Tomain, Nuclear Power Transformation.

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

1988

Abstract

In this thoughtful and critically engaged review, William S. Jordan III evaluates Joseph P. Tomain’s Nuclear Power Transformation, a book that advocates for a more rational, transparent, and democratically accountable approach to nuclear energy policy in the United States. Jordan praises Tomain’s interdisciplinary analysis, which blends legal, political, and ethical concerns with the technical and economic realities of nuclear energy regulation. The review highlights Tomain’s central argument that the failures of U.S. nuclear policy stem not from technical incapacity, but from flawed governance—characterized by regulatory opacity, institutional inflexibility, and public mistrust. Jordan commends the book’s call for greater public participation, regulatory reform, and value-driven policy-making, while also scrutinizing its normative assumptions and feasibility. He situates Tomain’s work within the broader context of administrative law, energy regulation, and environmental governance, offering insights into how legal scholars and policymakers might respond to the complex legacy of nuclear development in a democratic society.

Publication Title

Cinncinnati Law Review

Volume

56

First Page

971

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