Despite themselves
Seriously though, the process is highly bueracratic. There is layer upon layer of regulations, checks, counterchecks and frankly, stopgaps. Violations of requirements (partly because there are just so damned many) andthe tracking of those violations and the development, review and resolution of those violations is constant It gets hard not to lose perspective when nonconformances are found constantly, to get worked up about them.
Yet, certain types of issues; especially in concert with other seemingly unrelated issues, CAN snowball into a serious event. I have been out of nuclear for a long time but I would have no trouble believing near catastrophies have been averted many times. AND...there is nowhere near the number of nuclear power plants that there WOULD be if a green light was given to the resumption of their use. Not to mention that training people to design, construct and operate many, many nuclear facilities would be creating an even more huge bueracracy and creating many, many times the opportunities for the non-experienced, or lesser-experienced to precipitate a non-reversable event. The fact that we have'nt "China Syndromed" a reactor yet doesn't mean it can't happen and won't with many more opportunities.
I've been in the business and I stand opposed.
Yes, the storage of waste is a rea, an unending challenge. EVERYONE says, NIMBY - Not In My Backard - to this problem.