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U.S. Department of Energy
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Societal risks of energy systems. Hearing before the Committee on Science and Technology, US House of Representatives, Ninety-Seventh Congress, First Session, June 18, 1981

Book ·
OSTI ID:5987793

A panel of experts made up of Lester Lave of the Brookings Institution, William Ramsey of Resources for the Future, and Chester Richmond of Oak Ridge National Laboratory explored societal risks associated with energy systems and the federal role in risk comparison and management. Rep. Don Ritter of Pennsylvania opened the testimony by suggesting that risk comparisons are more informative than absolute risk numbers,and recommending legislation to fund risk-analysis research that considers the individual elements of energy systems. The panel emphasized the complexity of societal risk assessment and the need to balance safety, price, reliability, and other criteria. The panelists emphasized that all systems involve risk, but that accurate data are lacking for effective analysis and comparison. They commented on the federal regulatory role as an important component of risk assessment and management. (DCK)

OSTI ID:
5987793
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English