Which option best describes the focus of accident mitigation?

• A. Protecting the public from fission product release
• B. Minimizing downtime and maintenance costs
• C. Maintaining power output
• D. Protecting the reactor core

Answer: (D)

During an accident, the top priority is preventing damage to the reactor core. Keeping the core intact and properly cooled stops or slows the progression toward meltdown and drastically reduces the chance of large releases of radioactive material, buying time to stabilize the plant and protect people. Protecting the core directly leads to safer outcomes, whereas concerns like public protection, downtime, or maintaining power output are important consequences or broader objectives, not the immediate focus of mitigation actions.