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Perceived Risks of Radioactive Waste Transport Through Oregon: Results of a Statewide Survey
Author(s) -
MacGregor Donald,
Slovic Paul,
Mason Robert G.,
Detweiler John,
Binney Stephen E.,
Dodd Brian
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00022.x
Subject(s) - hazardous waste , radioactive waste , business , public transport , transport engineering , environmental planning , opposition (politics) , waste disposal , waste management , environmental health , engineering , environmental science , political science , medicine , politics , law
Transportation of hazardous materials, and particularly radioactive wastes, on public highways has become an important risk management issue. The unfavorability of public attitudes regarding hazardous and nuclear wastes signals the potential for strong public opposition to programs for transporting these materials. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted to assess public reactions to a long‐term nuclear waste transport program planned to follow a route through a portion of rural Oregon. The survey assessed a number of key risk perception issues, including perceived health and safety risks of nuclear waste transport, relative risks of transport vs. storage at an existing site, trust in state officials, and satisfaction with life in communities along the transport route. The survey identified a number of attitudes and concerns that need to be understood and considered by those in charge of designing and implementing the waste‐transportation program.