Exploring a model nuclear planning and response program: Evaluating public awareness of written risk and emergency

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-559
Author(s):  
Ekong J. Peters, PhD ◽  
Caroline S. Hackerott, PhD ◽  
Weijia Jia, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Space Shuttle ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Aircraft Carrier ◽  
Engineering Team

High-reliability organizations (HROs) including commercial airlines, the NASA Space Shuttle engineering team, US Naval aircraft carrier and nuclear submarine crews, and US nuclear power plants are relatively safe. However, these organizations experience system breakdowns often with catastrophic outcomes. This study focuses on risk information management strategies employed by a nuclear energy power plant located within 10 miles of a population center. The evacuation planning zone (EPZ) includes a hospital, several schools, and a public university. The nuclear plant provides written preparedness and evacuation information for all residents within the EPZ in the event of a radiological emergency. Focusing on the campus community within the EPZ, this study investigates individual awareness regarding the potential of a radiological event, the emergency information booklet, and the information provided within the booklet. We use descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, and cross tabulations (contingency tables) to establish awareness levels. Our study determines those participants who read the emergency instructions booklet are prepared to make an informed decision in the event of a radiological incident. We find college affiliation, educational level, university role, and age significantly related to emergency instruction booklet utilization. We also find gender is significantly linked to overall risk perception regarding a radiological event. Findings support previous research regarding women’s higher levels of risk aversion and pessimism involving dangerous new risky technologies and activities like nuclear energy plants. These findings support modifying policy to ensure nuclear facilities assess the efficacy of their warning systems in alerting the public. Furthermore, our findings provide guidance regarding the evaluation of the effectiveness of emergency instruction booklet distribution.

Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning in Germany: Projects, Regulation and Experience

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leopold Weil ◽  
Bernd Rehs
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Radioactive Decay ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Interim Storage ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Selection Of

In Germany, altogether 19 nuclear power plants (NPPs) and prototype reactors have been permanently shut down. For 15 NPPs the dismantling is in progress with “green-field conditions” as planning target. Two units were completely dismantled and two are in safe enclosure. The main legal provision for all aspects of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Germany is the Atomic Energy Act (AtG), which also contains the basic legal conditions for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. It stipulates that decommissioning is subject to a licence by the regulatory body of the respective Federal State (Land). An emerging decommissioning practice in Germany is the removal of complete undismantled large components and their transport to interim storage facilities. During the period of storage, the radionuclide inventory of the components will decrease due to radioactive decay and the subsequent segmentation of the components can be done with less radiation protection effort. The commissioning of the Konrad repository in the near future might have consequences on planning of decommissioning, regarding the selection of a decommissioning strategy and the waste management.

French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission Decommissioning Programme and Feedback Experience

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Guiberteau ◽  
Jean-Guy Nokhamzon
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Atomic Energy Commission ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Atomic Energy ◽  
Process Equipment ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
1960S And 1970S ◽  
Set Up

Since the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) was founded in 1945 to carry out research programs on use of nuclear, and its application France has set up and run various types of installations : research or prototypes reactors, process study or examination laboratories, pilot installations, accelerators, nuclear power plants and processing facilities. Some of these are currently being dismantled or must be dismantled soon so that the DEN, the Nuclear Energy Division, can construct new equipment and thus have available a range of R&D facilities in line with the issues of the nuclear industry of the future. Since the 1960s and 1970s in all its centers, the CEA has acquired experience and know-how through dismantling various nuclear facilities. The dismantling techniques are nowadays operational, even if sometimes certain specific developments are necessary to reduce the cost of operations. Thanks to availability of techniques and guarantees of dismantling program financing now from two dedicated funds, close to 15 B€ for the next thirty years, for current or projected dismantling operations, the CEA’s Nuclear Energy Division has been able to develop, when necessary, its immediate dismantling strategy. Currently, nearly thirty facilities are being dismantled by the CEA’s Nuclear Energy Division operational units with its industrial partners. Thus the next decade will see completion of the dismantling and radioactive clean-up of the Grenoble site and of the facilities on the Fontenay-aux-Roses site. By 2018, the dismantling of the UP1 plant at Marcoule, the largest dismantling work in France, will be well advanced, with all the process equipment dismantled. After an overview of the French regulatory framework, the paper will describe the DD&R strategy, programme and feedback experience inside the CEA’s Nuclear Energy Division and its progress since ICEM 14 in 2011’s conference in Reims.

A Normal Accident or a Sea-Change? Nuclear Host Communities Respond to the 3/11 Disaster

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL P. ALDRICH
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Crisis Response ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Decay Function ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Nuclear Plants

AbstractWhile 3/11 has altered energy policies around the world, insufficient attention has focused on reactions from local nuclear power plant host communities and their neighbors throughout Japan. Using site visits to such towns, interviews with relevant actors, and secondary and tertiary literature, this article investigates the community crisis management strategies of two types of cities, towns, and villages: those which have nuclear plants directly in their backyards and neighboring cities further away (within a 30 mile radius). Responses to the disaster have varied with distance to nuclear facilities but in a way contrary to the standard theories based on the concept of the ‘distance decay function’. Officials in communities directly proximal to nuclear power plants by and large remain supportive of Japan's nuclear power program, while those in cities and towns at a distance (along with much of the general public) have displayed strong opposition to the pre 3/11 status quo. Using qualitative data, this article underscores how national energy and crisis response policies rest strongly on the political economy, experiences of, and decisions made at the subnational level.

scholarly journals Nuclear Village and Risk Constructio Japan: A Lesson Learned for Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-52
Author(s):  
Upik Sarjiati
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Japanese Government ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Fukushima Nuclear Accident ◽  
The Government

Japans success in the development of nuclear energy cannot be separated from the role of the nuclear village, a pro-nuclear group comprising experts, bureaucrats, politicians and the mass media. The nuclear village created an image of nuclear energy as safe, cheap and reliable. Using this nuclear village was one of the strategies used to construct a perception of the risk of nuclear energy. Thus, the acceptance by Japanese people of nuclear energy is an important factor in their support for economic development. However, the Fukushima nuclear accident changed the publics perception of nuclear energy and the Japanese Government was asked to end the operation of nuclear power plants. The government decided to change energy policy by phasing out nuclear power by the end of year 2030. Conversely, the Fukushima nuclear accident has not impeded the Indonesian Governments plans to build nuclear power plants. Thus, understanding how the Japanese Government managed nuclear risk is expected to raise Indonesian public awareness of such risks.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-158
Author(s):  
E. V. YANUSIK ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
World Market ◽  
Global Energy ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Energy Consumption

The article discusses the main prerequisites for the development of nuclear energy in the global econo-my, also defines nuclear energy and discusses the structure of global energy consumption. The article proves that the crucial prerequisite for the development of nuclear energy in the world market is the economic efficiency of nuclear power plants.

OPINIE PREZESA PAA, O KTÓRYCH MOWA W ART. 36A I 39B USTAWY – PRAWO ATOMOWE JAKO PRZYKŁAD PRE-LICENCJONOWANIA OBIEKTÓW JĄDROWYCH

2021 ◽  
pp. 389-411
Author(s):  
Tomasz R. Nowacki
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
General Concept ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Investment Risk ◽  
Binding Force ◽  
Technical Factors ◽  
Energy Law

This article discusses one of the solutions adopted in the nuclear energy law, which contributes to the reduction of the investment risk. It is the so-called pre-licensing which involves the assessment of key site or technical factors at the pre-investment stage in order to avoid possible problems at the stage of investment implementation. The author analyses the Polish solutions in the context of the general concept of pre-licensing, with particular respect to: the nature of pre-licensing legal instruments (opinions), the scope and requirements of the application for an opinion, and the binding force of pre-licensing acts. The practical significance of this issue is all the greater considering governmental plans to implement nuclear power in Poland and in the light of recent activities of private entities as to the construction of smaller nuclear power plants. In the latter case, prelicensing instruments are already being exercised in practice.

scholarly journals Social responsibility of Ukraine’s nuclear energy: analysis of problems and development prospects

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-31
Author(s):  
K. Bereziuk
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Erp System ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Educational Campaign

The development of Ukraine’s nuclear energy remains one of the priority areas for ensuring the state’s socio-economic stability and national security. In addition, the industry’s social responsibility to key stakeholders and the world community, in general, plays an essential role in ensuring the development of nuclear energy. The biggest problems of NNEGC Energoatom’s social policy remain outdated staff motivation system, unresolved issue of radioactive waste disposal, inefficient distribution of subventions allocated to NPP satellite cities, an extension of overtime operation of power units, corruption offenses, nontransparent procurement. Reserves for the development of social responsibility at the enterprise are the development of a new wage system, regulation at the legislative level of the mechanism of distribution of subventions, strengthening responsibility for corruption crimes, automation of the procurement process in the SAR ERP system, reducing the number of intermediaries in procurement. It is also vital to increase the transparency of the enterprise and launch an educational campaign to restore public confidence in nuclear power plants. Strengthening social responsibility requires systematic work not only by the management of NNEGC Energoatom but also by lawmakers and anti-corruption bodies.

scholarly journals Significant Issues of Nuclear Energy Investment Decisions for Energy Importer Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hasan Dinçer ◽  
Gülsüm Sena Uluer
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Entropy Method ◽  
Energy Investment ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Environmental Pollution Problem ◽  
Energy Companies

Nuclear energy investments are important for the social and economic development of countries. Thanks to these investments, no carbon gas is released into the atmosphere while providing energy. This situation prevents the environmental pollution problem. On the other hand, nuclear energy contributes to countries to obtain uninterrupted electricity. However, the installation of nuclear power plants is now difficult. A serious technological infrastructure is required to build these facilities. This situation is especially important for countries that do not yet have nuclear power plants. In order to increase the use of nuclear energy in these countries, support from nuclear energy companies is required. However, nuclear energy investors may not want to invest in every country. In this study, the factors that affect the investment decisions of nuclear energy investors are analyzed. In this framework, a detailed literature analysis was performed, and 4 different criteria were determined. An analysis was carried out using the Entropy method to determine the most important factor among these factors. According to the results of the analysis, it is determined that the socio-political factors in the country have the most importance in the decisions of nuclear energy investors. Considering these issues, it is understood that countries should pay attention to public acceptance to attract the attention of nuclear energy investors.

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