A senior reactor operator licensee (like aviation pilots and masters of ships at sea) is authorized by law to depart from regulations during emergencies. 10CFR50.54(x) states they may "take reasonable action that departs from a license condition or a technical specification (contained in a license issued under this part) in an emergency when this action is immediately needed to protect the public health and safety and no action consistent with license conditions and technical specifications that can provide adequate or equivalent protection is immediately apparent." and 10CFR50.54(y) "Licensee action permitted by paragraph (x) of this section shall be approved, as a minimum, by a licensed senior operator, or, at a nuclear power reactor facility for which the certifications required under Sec. 50.82(a)(1) have been submitted, by either a licensed senior