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Title: Perspectives on Radioactive Waste Disposal: A Consideration of Economic Efficiency and Intergenerational Equity

Abstract

There are both internal and external pressures on the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce the estimated costs of isolating radioactive waste, $19 billion for transuranic waste at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and $57 billion for high level waste at Yucca Mountain. The question arises whether economic analyses would add to the decision-making process to reduce costs yet maintain the same level of radiological protection. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of using cost-benefit analysis (CBA), a tool used to measure economic efficiency as an input for these decisions. Using a comparative research approach, we find that CBA analyses appear particularly applicable where the benefits and costs are in the near term. These findings can help policymakers become more informed on funding decisions and to develop public confidence in the merits of the program for waste disposal.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV; Environmental Evaluation Group, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
none (US)
OSTI Identifier:
827251
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Waste Management 2003 Symposium, Tucson, AZ (US), 02/23/2003--02/27/2003; Other Information: PBD: 25 Feb 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; DECISION MAKING; ECONOMICS; EFFICIENCY; RADIATION PROTECTION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; WIPP; YUCCA MOUNTAIN

Citation Formats

Neill, H R, and Neill, R H. Perspectives on Radioactive Waste Disposal: A Consideration of Economic Efficiency and Intergenerational Equity. United States: N. p., 2003. Web.
Neill, H R, & Neill, R H. Perspectives on Radioactive Waste Disposal: A Consideration of Economic Efficiency and Intergenerational Equity. United States.
Neill, H R, and Neill, R H. 2003. "Perspectives on Radioactive Waste Disposal: A Consideration of Economic Efficiency and Intergenerational Equity". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/827251.
@article{osti_827251,
title = {Perspectives on Radioactive Waste Disposal: A Consideration of Economic Efficiency and Intergenerational Equity},
author = {Neill, H R and Neill, R H},
abstractNote = {There are both internal and external pressures on the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce the estimated costs of isolating radioactive waste, $19 billion for transuranic waste at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and $57 billion for high level waste at Yucca Mountain. The question arises whether economic analyses would add to the decision-making process to reduce costs yet maintain the same level of radiological protection. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of using cost-benefit analysis (CBA), a tool used to measure economic efficiency as an input for these decisions. Using a comparative research approach, we find that CBA analyses appear particularly applicable where the benefits and costs are in the near term. These findings can help policymakers become more informed on funding decisions and to develop public confidence in the merits of the program for waste disposal.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/827251}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 EST 2003},
month = {Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 EST 2003}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

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