Impact of offshore nuclear generating stations on recreational behavior at adjacent coastal sites

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:5232013

Baker, E J; West, S G; Moss, D J; Weyant, J K

A multi-faceted investigation was undertaken to project the impact of offshore nuclear power plants on beach visitation at adjacent beaches. Related literature was reviewed concerning human adjustment to natural hazards, risk-taking behavior, and public attitudes toward nuclear power. Approximately 2400 people were interviewed at beaches in three states with respect to: intended avoidance of beaches near a hypothetical floating nuclear plant (FNP), relative importance of proximity to a FNP, when compared to other beach attributes, onshore-offshore preference for coastal nuclear plant location, behavioral impact of NRC licensing of FNPs, relative tourism impact of coastal nuclear plant compared to coastal coal-fired plant, public concerns about nuclear safety, public attitudes toward alternative energy sources, public confidence in sources of information about nuclear power, visual impact of a FNP, and knowledge about nuclear power. Four beach areas near currently operating coastal nuclear power plants were studied to assess impacts on tourism resulting from plant construction. Data suggest that proximity of a FNP is less important than other beach attributes in determining beach attractiveness, probably no more than (and perhaps less than) 5% to 10% of current beach patrons would avoid a beach after FNP siting three miles directly offshore, and impact of a FNP would decrease exponentially as distance away increased.

• Research Organization: Florida State Univ., Tallahassee (USA). Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center
• OSTI ID: 5232013
• Report Number(s): NUREG-0394; TRN: 78-005994
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
PUBLIC OPINION
OFFSHORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
COASTAL REGIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LICENSING
NUCLEAR POWER
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SHORES
US NRC
HAZARDS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
POPULATIONS
POWER
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US ORGANIZATIONS
290600* - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy
220500 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Environmental Aspects
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
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530200 - Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies- Assessment of Energy Technologies- (-1989)