Public Reactions to Nuclear Waste: Citizens’ Views of Repository Siting

Published by Duke University Press 1993

Public Reactions to Nuclear Waste

Citizens’ Views of Repository Siting

Edited by: Riley E. Dunlap , Michael E. Kraft and Eugene A. Rosa

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780822397731

Overview
Contents

About this book

Nuclear waste is going nowhere, and neither is the debate over its disposal. The problem, growing every day, has proven intractable, with policymakers on one side, armed with daunting technical data, and the public on the other, declaring: not in my backyard. This timely volume offers a look past our present impasse into the nature and roots of public viewpoints on nuclear waste disposal.
A much-needed supplement to the largely technical literature on this problem, the book provides extensive studies of the reaction of citizens--whether rural or urban, near-site residents or prospective visitors--to proposed nuclear waste sites around the nation, particularly Nevada's Yucca Mountain. Conducted by distinguished sociologists, psychologists, political scientists, and economists, these studies constitute the most comprehensive account available of the impact of public perceptions and opinions on the nuclear waste policy process in the United States. As such, the collection will clarify the politics of nuclear waste siting and will give impetus to the stalled debate over the issue.

Contributors. Rodney K. Baxter, Julia G. Brody, Bruce Clary, Lori Cramer, William H. Desvousges, Riley E. Dunlap, Douglas Easterling, Judy K. Fleishman, James Flynn, William R. Freudenburg, Michael E. Kraft, Richard S. Krannich, Howard Kunreuther, Mark Layman, Ronald L. Little, Robert Cameron Mitchell, Alvin H. Mushkatel, Joanne M. Nigg, K. David Pijawka, Eugene A. Rosa, Paul Slovic

Author / Editor information

Riley Dunlap is Professor of Sociology and Rural Sociology at Washington State University.

Michael E. Kraft is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and Herbert Fisk Johnson Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.

Eugene A. Rosa is Professor of Sociology at Washington State University.

Reviews

"Outstanding. This book, which includes some of the most important recent studies of public opinion on nuclear waste, could be extremely important in the nuclear waste debate."—Leroy C. Gould, Florida State University

"This book is unique in providing the most intensive and extensive empirical study of public opinion relating specifically to two proposed waste sites. It pulls together in one volume a variety of high-quality studies, most by well known and respected researchers. The volume will command attention from specialists right away."—Walter A. Rosenbaum, University of Florida

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
List of figures and tables Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Riley E. Dunlap, Michael E. Kraft and Eugene A. Rosa Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
Part I the context of public concern with nuclear waste
1. Public opinion and nuclear waste Policymaking Michael E. Kraft, Eugene A. Rosa and Riley E. Dunlap Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2. The historical development of public reactions to nuclear power: implications for nuclear waste policy Eugene A. Rosa and William R Freudenburg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	32
3. Perceived risk, trust, and nuclear waste: lessons from yucca mountain Paul Slavic, Mark Layman and James H. Flynn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	64
Part II public reactions to preliminary sites
4. Public testimony in nuclear waste repository hearings: a content analysis Michael E. Kraft and Bruce B. Clary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	89
5. Sources of public concern about nuclear waste disposal in Texas agricultural communities Julia G. Brody and Judy K. Fleishman Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
6. Local attitudes toward siting a high-level nuclear waste repository at Hanford, Washington Riley E. Dunlap, Eugene A. Rosa, Rodney K. Baxter and Robert Cameron Mitchell Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	136
Part III public reactions to the yucca mountain, Nevada site
7. Perceived risk and attitudes toward nuclear wastes: national and Nevada perspectives William H. Desvousges, Howard Kunreuther, Paul Slavic and Eugene A. Rosa Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175
8. The vulnerability of the convention industry to the siting of a high-level nuclear waste repository Douglas Easterling and Howard Kunreuther Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
9. Nevada urban residents' attitudes toward a nuclear waste repository Alvin H. Mushkatel, Joanne M. Nigg and K. David Pijawka Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	239
10. Rural community residents' views of nuclear waste repository siting in Nevada Richard S. Krannich, Ronald I. Little and Lori A. Cramer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
Part IV summary and policy implications
11. Prospects for public acceptance of a high-level nuclear waste repository in the united states: summary and implications Eugene A. Rosa, Riley E. Dunlap and Michael E. Kraft Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	291
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	325
Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	329

Language: English
Publisher: Duke University Press
Pages
- Main content: 384

eBook

Published: August 17, 1993
ISBN: 9780822397731