On intergenerational equity and its clash with intragenerational equity and on the need for policies to guide the regulation of disposal of wastes and other activities posing very long-term risks

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Risk Analysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007014510236· OSTI ID:20005457

Okrent, D

This article begins with some history of the derivation of 40 CFR Part 191, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard that governs the geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level and transuranic radioactive wastes. This is followed by criticisms of the standard that were made by a Sub-Committee of the EPA Science Advisory Board, by the staff of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and by a penal of the National Academies of Science and Engineering. The large disparity in the EPA approaches to regulation of disposal of radioactive wastes and disposal of hazardous, long-lived, nonradioactive chemical waste is illustrated. An examination of the intertwined matters of intergenerational equity and the discounting of future health effects follows, together with a discussion of the conflict between intergenerational equity and intragenerational equity. Finally, issues related to assumptions in the regulations concerning the future state of society and the biosphere are treated, as is the absence of any national philosophy or guiding policy for how to deal with societal activities that pose very long-term risks.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (US)
• OSTI ID: 20005457
• Journal Information: Risk Analysis, Journal Name: Risk Analysis Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 19; ISSN 0272-4332; ISSN RIANDF
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REGULATIONS
SPENT FUELS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL