Trust as a Determinant of Opposition to a High-Level Radioactive Waste Repository: Analysis of a Structural Model

Residents in the State of Nevada hold strong opinions about the federal government's proposal to site the nation's first high-level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain. The model developed in this study is designed to examine the relationship between public perceptions of risk, trust in risk management, and potential economic impacts of the current repository program using a confirmatory multivariate method known as covariance structure analysis. The data used to test the model was collected in a 1989 statewide survey of Nevada residents. The results indicate that, for a statewide sample, perceptions of potential economic benefits do not have a significant role in predicting support or opposition to the repository program. On the other hand, risk perceptions and the level of trust in repository management are closely related to each other and to positions on Yucca Mountain. Trust directly influences risk perceptions which, in turn, have a direct effect on the attitude toward the repository, and an indirect effect through perceived stigma effects.     

Developing and Testing a Facility Location Model for Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a facility location model for the siting of a nuclear fuel waste disposal facility in Canada. The model is based on successful Canadian siting processes related to hazardous waste and low level radioactive waste facilities, as well as attributes of facility siting found in the literature. The proposed model was presented to a sample of participants in the federal environmental assessment review of the technical feasibility of the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Disposal Concept (CNFWDC) held throughout Canada in 1990. Results demonstrate that despite the fact that over half of the survey respondents did not support the CNFWDC during the public hearings, the majority favorably rated the proposed facility location model. Components of the model that were tested included siting criteria and goals, decision-making groups, and siting safeguards. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that the siting of a nuclear fuel waste disposal facility must make the decentralization of decision-making authority to local communities and governments a priority.     

The Nevada Initiative: A Risk Communication Fiasco

The U.S. Congress has designated Yucca Mountain, Nevada as the only potential site to be studied for the nation's first high-level nuclear waste repository. People in Nevada strongly oppose the program, managed by the U.S. Department of Energy. Survey research shows that the public believes there are great risks from a repository program, in contrast to a majority of scientists who feel the risks are acceptably small. Delays in the repository program resulting in part from public opposition in Nevada have concerned the nuclear power industry, which collects the fees for the federal repository program and believes it needs the repository as a final disposal facility for its high-level nuclear wastes. To assist the repository program, the American Nuclear Energy Council (ANEC), an industry group, sponsored a massive advertising campaign in Nevada. The campaign attempted to assure people that the risks of a repository were small and that the repository studies should proceed. The campaign failed because its managers misunderstood the issues underlying the controversy, attempted a covert manipulation of public opinion that was revealed, and most importantly, lacked the public trust that was necessary to communicate credibly about the risks of a nuclear waste facility.     

Perception of Nuclear Energy and Coal in France and the Netherlands

This study focuses on the perception of large scale application of nuclear energy and coal in the Netherlands and France. The application of these energy-sources and the risks and benefits are judged differently by various group in society. In Europe, France has the highest density of nuclear power plants and the Netherlands has one of the lowest. In both countries scientists and social scientists completed a questionnaire assessing the perception of the large scale application of both energy sources. Furthermore, a number of variables relating to the socio cultural and political circumstances were measured. The results indicate that the French had a higher risk perception and a more negative attitude toward nuclear power than the Dutch. But they also assess the benefits of the use of nuclear power to be higher. Explanations for these differences are discussed.     

A Multiattribute Utility Analysis of Alternative Sites for the Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Five potential sites nominated for the Nation's first geologic repository for disposing of nuclear waste are evaluated using multiattribute utility analysis. The analysis was designed to aid the Department of Energy in its selection of 3 sites for characterization, a detailed data-gathering process that will involve the construction of exploratory shafts for underground testing and that may cost as much as $1 billion per site. The analysis produced insights into the relative advantages and disadvantages of the nominated sites and clarified current uncertainties regarding repository performance.     

An Analysis of the Portfolio of Sites to Characterize for Selecting a Nuclear Repository

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected three sites, from five nominated, to characterize for a nuclear repository to permanently dispose of nuclear waste. This decision was made without the benefit of an analysis of this "portfolio" problem. This paper analyzes different portfolios of three sites for simultaneous characterization and strategies for sequential characterization. Characterization of each site, which involves significant subsurface excavation, is now estimated to cost $1 billion. Mainly because of the high characterization costs, sequential characterization strategies are identified which are the equivalent of $1.7-2.0 billion less expensive than the selected DOE simultaneous characterization of the three sites. If three sites are simultaneously characterized, one portfolio is estimated to be the equivalent of $100-400 million better than the selected DOE portfolio. Because of these potential savings and several other complicating factors that may influence the relative desirability of characterization strategies, a thorough analysis of characterization strategies that addresses the likelihood of finding disqualifying conditions during site characterization, uncertainties, and dependencies in forecast site repository costs, preclosure and postclosure health and safety impacts, potential delays of both sequential and simultaneous characterization strategies, and the environmental, socioeconomic, and health and safety impacts of characterization activities is recommended.     

基于社会网络方法的核科学与技术融合路径研究

利用2002年至2018年公开的德温特专利数据,分析了核科学与技术多元化应用的技术领域、区域分布、技术关联等。结果显示:543项同族专利中有501项属于中国,远超其他国家专利授权量的总和,按DWPI专利排名前十的机构中有4家位于中国,而且中国的专利主题领域十分广泛。出现次数最多的DWPI分类码代表的技术主题主要是核电技术、加速技术、核探测技术与辐射防护等。以专利共现为基础的社会网络分析结果显示,节点绝对中心度最高的10个DWPI分类码中有8个与中间中心度最高的DWPI分类码重叠,代表的技术主题主要包括核电、核探测技术、加速技术、辐射防护、铀矿分离与提取、核成像技术、工业废物和废水处理以及辐射发射装置等。除孤立点外,同质无向的核科学与技术专利多值网络可以划分为6个聚类和8个k-核。     

对我国企业核心竞争力发展的思考

基于我国企业与国际企业竞争力的差距 ,适合我国企业核心竞争力的发展战略应是先管理能力 ,后技术能力。基于我国企业的特殊经历 ,提高管理能力要与改革和转换机制相结合     

关于我国能源革命与核电发展的探讨

2014年6月习近平在中央财经领导小组第六次会议指出:"必须推动能源生产和消费革命"和"抓紧启动东部沿海地区新的核电项目建设"。世界能源革命的历史表明:能源革命从低碳能源向高碳能源又回归到低碳能源;第一次能源革命促进了生产力巨大发展,同时也导致了资源耗用、生态损害和环境污染。从而引发低碳经济的新能源第二次革命。因此,我国能源革命不能走西方发达国家老路,应进行以核能为主的新能源革命。能源消费、能源供给、能源体制、能源技术革命和国际合作是我国新能源革命的任务,我国能源革命要实现三步跨越并为两步跨越具有长期性和复杂性,需要一代人的努力,直到21世界中叶建国100周年时才可能完成。各国大量资料证明:核电是化石能最有潜力、高效、清洁、可靠的替代能源,能承担替代化石能源的重任。     

核电企业社会责任测量维度初探

企业社会责任的履行状况是衡量企业管理水平和社会效益的重要标志。核电作为一种特殊行业,为人们所关注。日本福岛核事故以来,人们对核电发展一直持保守态度,其主要原因在于对核电的安全性存在担忧,同时对核电企业社会责任的履行状况了解不足。文章从利益相关者理论出发,对核电企业的社会责任进行了界定,将核电企业社会责任主体分为政府、股东、员工、环境和社区5个维度,并细化为17个具体的测量指标,最后通过调查问卷进行验证,分析结果表明上述测量指标能准确测度出核电企业社会责任的主要内容。