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Proposed waste isolation pilot project (WIPP) and impacts in the state of New Mexico: a socio-economic analysis

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6380602· OSTI ID:6380602

In the process of preparing a socio-economic study of WIPP-related impacts in the State of New Mexico, the authors considered a wide range of potential socio-economic impacts. The state of the art for deriving quantitative measures for many of these impacts, however, is at a relatively infant stage. While methods and data for measuring such things as increases in crime rates and local inflation are primitive at this point in time, considerable time was spent by the authors in investigating these methods inasmuch as it seemed highly probably that the socio-economic study would have to be updated if, and when, the WIPP was ultimately approved. This report represents a collection of working papers which describe the methods examined by the authors in their efforts to quantify some of the more important impacts which might be associated with the WIPP. Methods used in the study for estimating population and employment effects are sketched in Working Paper A, along with a description of the author's efforts to derive statistical estimates for changes in baseline labor force participation rates. Diversification impacts are considered in Working Paper C, and a statistical approach to measuring impacts on municipal, county, and services is described in Working Papers B and D. Local inflation and crime effects are described in Working Papers E and F, and the compensation issue is treated in Working Paper G. The bulk of statistical methods described in these Working Papers was not used in the socio-economic study, primarily due to the lack of credible data required for this use. The intended purpose for presenting these papers is solely that of suggesting analytical techniques for impact measurements which might be useful for future studies of this kind when more appropriate data might be available.

Research Organization:
New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque (USA). Dept. of Economics
OSTI ID:
6380602
Report Number(s):
DOE/TIC-1022080; EMD-2-67-1139(WP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English