Talking with the Public about Regulating High-level Waste Disposal: Recent Progress
Increasing public confidence in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as an effective and independent regulator is an explicit goal of the Agency (1). Consistent with long-established mechanisms and procedures, NRC provides the public access to its decision-making process. Recently, during the course of a rulemaking required by statute, NRC examined its means for inviting public access as well as the NRC staff's effectiveness in furthering public confidence in it's actions as a regulator. When developing new, site-specific regulations for the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, NRC's Division of Waste Management found it necessary to adapt and improve its efforts to inform and involve the public in NRC's decision making process. Major changes were made to the way in which technical staff prepare for speaking to general audiences. The format used for public meetings was modified to encourage dialogue with participants. Handout and presentation materials that explain NRC's role and technical topics of concern in plain language were developed and are regularly updated. NRC successfully applied these and other institutional changes as it completed final regulations for Yucca Mountain and while developing and introducing a draft license review plan for public comment.
- Research Organization:
- U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- none (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 825993
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste Management 2003 Symposium, Tucson, AZ (US), 02/23/2003--02/27/2003; Other Information: PBD: 26 Feb 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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