Not equitable, not efficient: U. S. policy on low-level radioactive waste disposal

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Policy Analysis and Management; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3325390· OSTI ID:6666586

Coates, D; Munger, M ^[1]; Heid, V

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)

Elected officials and policy analysts alike often treat equity and efficiency as distinct concerns. In the case study, focusing on U.S. policy for disposing of low-level radioactive waste, the authors consider an instance where the distinction between equity and efficiency is difficult to sustain. The [open quotes]equity, then efficiency[close quotes] approach embodied in the compact system of regional agreements is largely to blame for the current crisis facing generators, regulatory officials, and citizens. They find that nearly three times more waste disposal facilities are being contemplated than are financially viable. More generally, it is claimed that the approach for achieving an equitable solution must be very carefully designed, and that the concept of economic efficiency must be considered (at least in this case study) as part of the definition of equity. This case study is unusual, because they are able to make a recommendation that improves both efficiency and equity. 15 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 6666586
• Journal Information: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management; (United States), Vol. 13:3; ISSN 0276-8739
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL ACTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
290200* - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics & Sociology