Risk-Induced Social Impacts: The Effects of the Proposed Nuclear Waste Repository on residents of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/138065· OSTI ID:138065

Mushkatel, Alvin H. ^[1]; Pijawka, K. David ^[1]; Dantico, Marilyn ^[1]

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1. Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)

This report examines important and major impacts of the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository on Las Vegas metropolitan residents. The data utilized in the report consist of interview data collected in the 1988, Urban Risk Survey and data for Clark County residents collected as part of the 1989 Nevada Telephone Survey. The use of two different data sets which were collected at two distinct points in time permit for not only determinations of the consistency of opinions and risk perceptions, but also result in a compelling consistency of findings demonstrating the types of impacts described in the report. The repository is viewed as an extremely dangerous facility where accidents are perceived as inevitable, and the consequences may result in catastrophic impacts. Over the last few years, the negative imagery of the repository, coupled with the view that the area may become stigmatized has amplified the perceived risks over the benefits. In addition, Las Vegas valley residents have little trust in the agencies empowered to ensure their safety and to mitigate the impacts from the facility. In this context it is difficult to believe that the federal agencies can regain much credibility among Clark County residents, or that the major impacts outlined in the report if the Yucca Mountain project becomes a reality will not come about.

• Research Organization: Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, Carson City, NV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG08-85NV10461
• OSTI ID: 138065
• Report Number(s): NWPO-SE--032-90; ON: DE91010611
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ACCIDENTS
ATTITUDES
BEHAVIOR
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEMOGRAPHY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MITIGATION
NEVADA
NUCLEAR ENERGY
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC OPINION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SURVEYS
TELEPHONES
TRANSPORT
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
US DOE
US NRC
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project