McCain is open to review of U.S. nuclear power policy

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday that he's open to reviewing the use of nuclear power in the United States.

Speaking on radio station 550 KFYI, McCain said that although he's not ready to "abandon" nuclear power, he's open to reviewing how and where it's used in the United States, once the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan is resolved.

"I'm not prepared by the way to say that we should abandon nuclear power because I think it's a major contributor [to] our energy needs but I am prepared, once this is over, to make an evaluation as to whether our nuclear power plans can continue," McCain said.

In response to the power plant crisis in Japan, some American lawmakers have called for a review or even a pause on American nuclear power plant projects. On Sunday, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that the U.S. should issue a moratorium on new nuclear power plant projects until the country can "absorb what has happened in Japan."

On Tuesday, the crisis surrounding the nuclear reactors in Japan appeared to worsen as nuclear technicians said a blast had opened a hole in the building of one of the reactors, exposing low-level radiation to the atmosphere.