Nevada's Predicament Public Perceptions of Risk from the Proposed Nuclear Waste Repository

摘要: After fifteen years of vigorous national debate about a possible site for storing high-level radioactive waste from commercial power plants in the United States, US Congress on 22 December 1987 amended Nuclear Waste Policy Act 1982 and authorized Department Energy (DOE) to determine whether Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is geologically sound technically feasible site. If this passes set prescribed technical criteria, repository will be constructed 2000 feet below ground which nuclear shipped casks all over States permanently stored. The state Nevada currently attempting disqualify Mountain grounds that storage wastes at transportation pose unacceptable risks state`s population. There also concern addition an area already houses weapons testing may create image as wasteland. Elected officials appear skeptical merits siting process are concerned could stigmatize thus affecting economic activity. These concerns provide rational formore » investigating public attitudes toward or elsewhere. In order address issue, we conducted two telephone surveys; sample 1201 households 1001 residents Nevada. surveys part larger study commissioned by Project Office potential socioeconomic effects construction there repository.« less