Pace Environmental Law Review Volume 30 Issue 1 Fall 2012 Article 5 September 2012 The Changing Perspectives of U.S and Japanese Nuclear Energy Policies in the Aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster Daniel A. Dorfman Pace University School of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pelr Recommended Citation Daniel A. Dorfman, The Changing Perspectives of U.S and Japanese Nuclear Energy Policies in the Aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster, 30 Pace Envtl. L. Rev. 255 (2012) Available at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pelr/vol30/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pace Environmental Law Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. COMMENT The Changing Perspectives of U.S and Japanese Nuclear Energy Policies in the Aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster DANIEL A. DORFMAN* I. INTRODUCTION: A TREMOR At 2:46 PM, a tremor strikes off the coast of Honshu Island.1 The 9.0 magnitude earthquake tears the earth apart at its seams, and shockwaves trigger an automatic shutdown of eleven of Japan’s nuclear power reactors.2 Although warned in 2008 that a tremor could occur in the region, it is now too late.3 The quake quickly dismantles its first obstacle, the national electricity grid.4 * Student, Pace Law School. Thank you to Nicholas Goldstein and Adam Weiss for their helpful edits and guidance throughout the writing process. Thank you to Jay Dorfman, Rhonda Herlich, William Frish, Brittany Dorfman, Jennifer Frish, David Frish, Brad Lieberman, Nicholas Switach, Lynley Jane Reilly, Hamutal Ginsburg, and Elliot Weiss for their inspiration and support.