Spent nuclear fuel disposal liability insurance

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5723252

Martin, D W

This thesis examines the social efficiency of nuclear power when the risks of accidental releases of spent fuel radionuclides from a spent fuel disposal facility are considered. The analysis consists of two major parts. First, a theoretical economic model of the use of nuclear power including the risks associated with releases of radionuclides from a disposal facility is developed. Second, the costs of nuclear power, including the risks associated with a radionuclide release, are empirically compared to the costs of fossil fuel-fired generation of electricity. Under the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the federally owned and operated spent nuclear fuel disposal facility is not required to maintain a reserve fund to cover damages from an accidental radionuclide release. Thus, the risks of a harmful radionuclide release are not included in the spent nuclear fuel disposal fee charged to the electric utilities. Since the electric utilities do not pay the full, social costs of spent fuel disposal, they use nuclear fuel in excess of the social optimum. An insurance mechanism is proposed to internalize the risks associated with spent fueled disposal. Under this proposal, the Federal government is required to insure the disposal facility against any liabilities arising from accidental releases of spent fuel radionuclides.

• Research Organization: Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5723252
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
INSURANCE
LAWS
LIABILITIES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACTS
POWER
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
REACTOR MATERIALS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SPENT FUELS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT