Genesis of an Approach: From Public non-participation to Participation in a LILW Site Selection Process in Slovenia WP1

Searching for the location of risky or unpleasant objects is becoming increasingly difficult task. Slovenia is for the number of years now in the process of search for the location of the low and intermediate waste (LILW) repository. Social acceptability of this facility is currently the main problem in this search. Efforts in this direction are presented in all its diversity, with weaknesses and successes, addressing also the context of the whole process, but especially considering different aspects of public participation. The most important step in the whole procedure was the transition from purely technical approach to the approach that involves people in the decision processes. Development of search process is presented and critical changes explained in the frame of their own dynamics as well as changes in the country. Public opinion was closely reflecting these changes, sometimes also generating them. Formerly highly negative attitudes are slowly substituted with the less negative