[en] Once the decision had been to close Trawsfynydd power station, it was necessary for Nuclear Electric to prepare immediately for decommissioning and to adopt a clear and well-defined strategy. For industrial sites that contain potentially hazardous materials, such as chemical or nuclear power plants decommissioning requires special measures, and the process takes the form of a detailed and structured plan. As Trawsfynydd is located within a National Park, as local employment opportunities are very limited, and as the nuclear industry was approaching Government Review, the Company took special steps to consult the staff and the local public on the available options. A decommissioning strategy known as 'deferred Safe-store' was chosen, and modified in direct recognition of public opinion and the view of local government bodies. (author)

[en] Radioactive waste management is one of the key questions to have dominated debates on nuclear energy for over a decade. The evolution of long-lived radioactive waste management programmes from the conceptual to the operational phases implies new communication challenges to keep the public informed to the scientific, technical, institutional and economic progress made in this area, at both national and local level. This publication presents the proceedings of an international seminar organised by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency on information strategies and means of addressing public concerns on ethical, environmental and other issues associated with the management of radioactive waste in OECD countries. It includes the text of the main presentations and a summary of the conclusions of the seminar. (authors)

[en] The generation and management of wastes has become one of the most pressing problems facing modern society. Though often depicted as a problem of a technical and environmental management nature, many aspects of the issue can be framed is sociological terms. This paper attempts to track the path of social perceptions of, and response to, wastes in western democracies from the turn of the century until the present day, and concludes by offering some ideas as to how perceptions and the consequent demands for information and involvement in decision-making on waste management may develop as we move into the 21. century. The focus of the paper is non-radioactive wastes, however, there is considerable overlap and commonalty with social responses to nuclear wastes. (authors)

[en] Some of the results of the opinion polls related to nuclear energy and nuclear waste, which were gathered in Western Europe as well as in the United States, are discussed here: can these converging results be of any help to decision-makers? Which lessons are to be learnt to consider new decision process which better meets the political realty at both the national and local levels? (authors)

[en] In 1990 the French Commissariat a l'energie atomique (CEA) had to deal with a series of issues concerning depositories of radioactive substances of very low activity, culminating, in October 1990, with the discovery of small amounts of plutonium in a depository. These were important issues for the following reasons: they highlighted the question o low activity wastes and their treatment, that is not yet resolved; they drew attention to the sensitivity of the concerned organisations, elected representatives and the public to the problems of radioactivity however low its level; they made the CEA aware of the gap that existed between the nuclear industry's practices, language and perception of risks and the perception of the French public. This paper outlines the different 'affairs', shows their common bases, and analyses the consequences for the CEA and the nuclear industry in general. These 'affairs' illustrate the absolute obligation for all producers of wastes to know, and to make known in the smallest detail, the way in which the wastes are treated and the places where they are stored and kept. Waste management has not always been as a noble task. These 'affairs' have shown that the reputation of the CEA was measured as much by the quality of its waste management as by the success of its research programme, with a budget that has doubled in the last few years. (author)

[en] In parallel with the field investigations of three sites, TVO has a specific information project aiming at public acceptance of HLW disposal in Finland. The site or final disposal will be selected by the year 2000. Prerequisites are that the local council accepts the facility, and that there is political acceptance of final disposal in the government and in Parliament TVO's experience with communications programmes concerning the siting of the spent fuel disposal facility is discussed. Much experience was gained from the 1987-92 information programme. Another programme was organised for the period 1993-96 to back up site investigations, development of technology and safety studies, and to pave the way for information activities in the years 1997-2000. The results of a study carried out a Jysaeskylae University on TVO's waste information in the candidate areas will provide useful information on attitudes about nuclear waste management in Finland. The issue of communication with local opponents, and strategies to assist in lessening their impact is discussed. It should be noted that in 1995 an amendment to the Finnish Nuclear Energy Act became effective that prohibits the transformation of Loviisa spent fuel from Finland to Russia after 1996, and thus reinforces the moral argument. (authors)

[en] The disposal of nuclear waste has become highly controversial. This paper presents the approach taken by NIRAS, the Belgian agency for the disposal of nuclear waste, to come to a decision on the establishment of a site for the permanent disposal of low level nuclear waste. A formal model is elaborated to take social effects of such a project into account, allowing for a balanced discussion of positive and negative effects at the local level. It is too early to tell it the model described in detail in this paper con solve the problems encountered by disposal agencies. The approach discussed, does however, respond to need experienced on a international scale. The paper emphasises the need for openness in the fact of assertive and articulate citizens who no longer accept the paternalistic approach. The public must not feel that there is any lack of clarity about waste projects or they will quickly voice their opinions and any opposition they feel. As far as siting is concerned, most of the controversies are fuelled ba a basic notion of 'unfairness'. Somehow the burdens seem to be imposed on parties other than those who reap the benefits. An approach to decision making through local negotiation on all aspects of a disposal projects should allow the problem of fairness to be treated in a more constructive way. (author)

[en] The decision to go ahead with the construction, by ANDRA, of a second storage centre for short-lived radioactive waste was made public in June 1984. This had been approved by the national authorities in 1983. Site selection began right after this announcement at a number of pre-selected sites, and it was decided that the Aube site was the post appropriate from all those aspects considered. As soon as the Aube site had been selected, and during this still preliminary stage a large public information campaign was started by ANDRA. This campaign included contacts with the local press and the public, organised visits to nuclear power plants, exhibitions and active participation in local information commissions. The paper discusses the steps taken by ANDRA, that had little experience in communications at that stage, at the Aube site, in order to build confidence in the project, and points out the positive and negative aspects of public information and involvement. There is no universal recipe for acceptance of a project at a given site in a given context at a given time. Confidence is he key word: confidence in the 'product', confidence in the people and confidence in the fact that managing radioactive waste is a way to protect the environment. (authors)

[en] This paper gives an overview of public attitudes towards the nuclear industry in West Cumbria, in the 'backyard' of the Sellafield nuclear complex, the area chosen for detailed examination for he development of a repository for low and intermediate level radioactive. It suggests that attitudes in West Cumbria towards the development of this facility appear to run counter to the NIMBY ('not in my backyard') model. They are influenced by the facility's perceived linkage with the Sellafield site, shaped by local history and by experience with the nuclear industry over four decades. In Sellafield's backyard, the positive connotations of the nuclear reprocessing and power generation industries are not related to any intrinsic merits of the nuclear industry. They are supported because of the extrinsic benefits they provide to the locality. The relationship between Sellafield and its locality is contingent and, as the basis for support declines or is perceived to decline, local attitudes may take on a more conventional NIMBY character. The paper also suggests that at the present time the sense of 'ownership' of Sellafield among the local population has not yet extended to embrace the nuclear waste project. (authors)

[en] Following a recent review, the UK Government has confirmed that it continues to favour a policy of deep disposal of intermediate low-level waste. The Government's continuing policy stems from the recommendations of the 1976 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (the 'Flowers'Report) and White Papers issued in 1977 and 1982 and 1982. The paper outlines the search for a disposal site in the UK. Nirex (Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive) was set up in 1982 to research and develop disposal facilities for intermediate low-level waste and low-level waste. At that time disposal facilities were envisaged as an engineered near-surface facility for LLW and short-lived ILW, and a modified mine or purpose built cavity at greater depth for long-lived ILW. Investigation of various sites followed and is discussed in the paper. The paper reviews the lessons learned in the field of public relations and public consultation, notably that public acceptance is a key factor in site selection and development, and that transparency is essential. For example, when it was announced that Sellafield was the preferred site for the repository, local councils became involved in discussions and planning, and Nirex is becoming more and more integrated into the local community. (author)