Nuclear inspectors
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The title of this article is conjectural. Though the topic is found within The Simpsons universe, a proper name is not available. |
Both Springfield's State and the United States Government have Nuclear Inspectors who visit Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to investigate reports of problems at the plant or to conduct surprise inspections.
Inspectors from the state government visit the plant when Bart catches Blinky the Three-Eyed Fish in the river near the plant, and a local reporter publishes a story about the fish. The inspectors find a large number of safety violations which Mr. Burns is legally required to fix, and the total cost will be just over fifty-six million dollars. The experience motivates Burns to run for governor so he'll be in a position to change the regulations that cost him so much money. Burns' campaign fails, however; and ironically, due to another three-eyed fish.[1]
Federal inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (an agency of the U.S. Government) later visit to conduct a surprise evaluation of employee competence. They bring with them their van which has a simulated workstation that the inspectors use to evaluate the employees. Smithers, reacting quickly, gives the three least talented employees (including Homer) the busy-work task of guarding a bee in the basement to hide them from the inspectors. Smithers' plan fails, however. Homer accidentally breaks the jar containing the bee, chases after it, and ends up emerging from a manhole near the van. When Homer gets his turn in the simulator, he manages to cause a meltdown, which baffles the inspectors because the van doesn't have any nuclear material in it. However, they are crystal-clear about their assessment: Homer is dangerously underqualified for his own job, and must take college training in nuclear physics in order to continue working at the nuclear power plant. Unable to bribe his way out of the situation or even forcibly remove the inspectors via the trap door (his office had been rearranged for painting), Mr. Burns arranges for Homer to be enrolled at Springfield University to take Nuclear Physics 101.[2]
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