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By Michael Greenberg,
Karen Lowrie, Joanna Burger, Charles Powers, Michael Gochfeld, and Henry
Mayer September 13, 2005 Abstract: A survey of 1351 people at six U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapon sites showed that the nuclear waste legacy was not the number one environmental concern. Most people who live within 50 miles of one of these six nuclear weapons sites were mildly to moderately concerned about the legacy. Other environmental issues, such as open space, water pollution, and local manufacturing and mining operations were considered slightly more worrisome by most of the respondents. The exceptions were Hanford and Savannah River where the nuclear legacy ranked second and third in priority. Yet residents want strong public health surveillance and land use controls, which at these sites means in perpetuity. Most trust DOE’s science more than they do itscommunications. The findings are mostly, but not entirely, consistent with expectations drawn from the risk perception and organizational trust literatures. The challenge is how to establish a stewardship program that convinces state and local government, community advisory boards and the public that remediation can go on at the same time that some waste is interned either in perpetuity or until suitable new technologies can be safely deployed.
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