Survey research on nuclear power issues conducted in the late 1970s has determined that nuclear waste management is now considered to be one of the most important nuclear power issues both by the U.S. public and by key leadership groups. The purpose of this research was to determine the importance placed on specific issues associated with high-level waste disposal. In addition, policy option choices were asked regarding the siting of both low-level and high-level nuclear waste repositories.

This report analyzes public participation as a key component of this openness, one that provides a means of garnering acceptance of, or reducing public opposition to, DOE's radioactive waste management activities, including facility siting and transportation.

The primary objective of government policy, and of NUMO in implementing this policy is to ensure that a repository for Japan’s high-level radioactive waste is designed and located so as to provide secure isolation of the waste and adequate safety for present and future generations. This requires that the site of a repository has to be chosen carefully and an associated repository concept is selected which is appropriate for its specific geological and environmental conditions. At NUMO, we have chosen to implement a volunteering approach to siting.

The report begins with a consideration of the factors which have led to a growth in the use of dialogue processes, a clarification of key concepts and a classification of dialogue processes. A description of recent and current activities in Europe and North America is followed by discussion of the relationship of processes and contexts. This then leads to an identification of the key aims and evaluation criteria which will be used in the design of dialogue processes to be conducted in subsequent phases of the project.