Public Beliefs, Concerns and Preferences Regarding the Management of Used Nuclear Fuel and High Level Radioactive Waste
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US policy for management of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and high level radioactive wastes (HLRW) is at a crossroads, and the success of new policy directions will depend in part on broad public acceptance and support. In this paper I provide an overview of the evidence concerning the beliefs and concerns of members of the American public regarding UNF and HLNW. I also characterize the evidence on American’s policy preferences for management of these materials. Findings from a number of recent sources of evidence on public views are synthesized for this purpose, but the discussion chiefly relies on data provided by an on-‐going time-‐series analysis of public beliefs and preferences concerning energy and environmental issues, called the National Security and Nuclear Policies (NSNP) project that is sponsored by the Sandia National Laboratories and conducted by the University of Oklahoma.1 I conclude with recommendations for additional research efforts that would serve to enhance understanding of public preferences for UNF and HLNW management.
