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Historical Application of a Social Amplification of Risk Model: Economic Impacts of Risk Events at Nuclear Weapons Facilities
Author(s) -
Metz William C.
Publication year - 1996
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.1539-6924.1996.tb01448.x
Subject(s) - interim , public opinion , nuclear weapon , risk perception , business , radioactive waste , risk assessment , process (computing) , risk analysis (engineering) , perception , political science , public economics , engineering , computer security , law , economics , politics , computer science , psychology , waste management , neuroscience , operating system
Public perception of risk is being cited as a documented reason to rethink a very contentious congressionally mandated process for siting interim storage and permanent disposal facilities for high‐level radioactive waste. Rigorous survey research has shown that the public holds intense, negative images of “nuclear” and “radioactive” technologies, activities, and facilities. Potential host states and opponents claim that these negative images, coupled with an amplification of negative risk events, will potentially stigmatize the area surrounding such facilities and result in significant economic losses. At issue is whether a supporting social amplification of risk model is applicable to communities hosting facilities that are part of the U.S. Department of Energy Nuclear Weapons Complex. An initial assessment of high‐profile discrete and cumulative key negative risk events at such nuclear facilities does not validate that there has been stigmatization or substantial social and economic consequences in the host areas. Before any changes to major national policy are implemented, additional research is required to determine if the nearby public's “pragmatic logic,” based on practical knowledge and experience, attenuates the link between public opinion and demographic and economic behaviors.