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Acronyms associated with the high-level radioactive waste disposal program
BOOK REVIEWS
265
NWPA consultation and cooperation process, (3) public participation, (4) regional equities, and (5) international approaches to high-level radioactive waste disposal. Even though the National Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 was passed after this report was completed, do not assume that the material in the report is outdated or has been superseded. The actions of congress have not addressed the findings, conclusions, or recommendations developed in the report and the need to address them is still real. The report is a compilation of papers on related subjects prepared by 16 students working under the Project Director. The papers have been logically and skillfully woven together to present a comprehensive assessment and a coherent set of recommendations for program improvement. "Alternative courses of action for high-level radioactive waste disposal are proposed that may advance efforts to achieve permanent disposal of such wastes." The high-level waste disposal program is unique among successful, high-tech, publicly sensitive governmental programs. This report has addressed the key elements that have fired the debates about the program and provides in a single volume the essencc of each debate. First, it questions the proper role and nature of public debate on a highly technical issue. Second, it illuminates, objectively, the strengths and weaknesses of our system of government to manage such a program. Third, it focuses on the influence of impacts associated with major federal actions that could have environmental and managemental impacts lasting thousands of years. The findings and recommendations of the report delineate changes needed in the NWPA and in the im-
plementation of the act by DOE. The analyses that lead to the major findings and recommendations fall into two major categories: institutional issues and public concerns. The work was broken into four major categories: issues, participants, accountability, and other major provisions such as the requirement for sites in multiple media. These categories were matrixed against the explicit provisions of the NWPA and analyzed one by one. The report is filled with chronological details and references on each issue and category which provides the reader with a handy, east to read summary and reference guide to the history of decision-making in the program. Though results and recommendations are provided, there is sufficient information for the reader to substantiate the authors conclusions or reach his own. Though a reader, including this reviewer, might want or like to discredit the report based on the perceived biases of the State and thercfore the University and the authors, it is hard to do so because of the objective, open. thorough process used in the assessments. The report is well worth having for a refresher. for a rcference, or for a basis on which to develop new ideas for improving or more effectively implementing the NWPA. An obvious but overwhelming challenge comes from a report conclusion that "the implementation of the NWPA depends on regaining public confidence." Read on for the detailed recommendations on how the authors believe that this can be accomplished,
Acronyms Associated with the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Program, by C. Runyan. (18 pp.)
phone number for the organization. It is useful for state legislatures involved in the HLW program.
This State Legislative report is a compilation of acronyms associated with the high-level waste (HLW) program. The report includes a definition of the acronym and, where appropriate, an address and
Margaret M. Dolan Ebasco Environmental Company Bellevue, WA 98004-4405
State Legislative Report, State Asbestos Programs: The Fee-based Financing Alternative, by D. K. Neilander and D. M. Sacarto. (8 pp.) This report, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, offers fee-based financing as the solution to growing demands on state resources to administer the regulatory and enforcement requirements of the 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Four states
Dillard B. Shipler Science Applications International Corporation Las Vegas, NV, USA
that have developed fee-based financing approaches are used as examples to examine the various components, methods, and legislative authorization in establishing a fee-based program. This report provides useful information for state policy makers.
Margaret M. Dolan Ebasco Environmental Company Bellevue, WA 98004-4405
265
NWPA consultation and cooperation process, (3) public participation, (4) regional equities, and (5) international approaches to high-level radioactive waste disposal. Even though the National Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987 was passed after this report was completed, do not assume that the material in the report is outdated or has been superseded. The actions of congress have not addressed the findings, conclusions, or recommendations developed in the report and the need to address them is still real. The report is a compilation of papers on related subjects prepared by 16 students working under the Project Director. The papers have been logically and skillfully woven together to present a comprehensive assessment and a coherent set of recommendations for program improvement. "Alternative courses of action for high-level radioactive waste disposal are proposed that may advance efforts to achieve permanent disposal of such wastes." The high-level waste disposal program is unique among successful, high-tech, publicly sensitive governmental programs. This report has addressed the key elements that have fired the debates about the program and provides in a single volume the essencc of each debate. First, it questions the proper role and nature of public debate on a highly technical issue. Second, it illuminates, objectively, the strengths and weaknesses of our system of government to manage such a program. Third, it focuses on the influence of impacts associated with major federal actions that could have environmental and managemental impacts lasting thousands of years. The findings and recommendations of the report delineate changes needed in the NWPA and in the im-
plementation of the act by DOE. The analyses that lead to the major findings and recommendations fall into two major categories: institutional issues and public concerns. The work was broken into four major categories: issues, participants, accountability, and other major provisions such as the requirement for sites in multiple media. These categories were matrixed against the explicit provisions of the NWPA and analyzed one by one. The report is filled with chronological details and references on each issue and category which provides the reader with a handy, east to read summary and reference guide to the history of decision-making in the program. Though results and recommendations are provided, there is sufficient information for the reader to substantiate the authors conclusions or reach his own. Though a reader, including this reviewer, might want or like to discredit the report based on the perceived biases of the State and thercfore the University and the authors, it is hard to do so because of the objective, open. thorough process used in the assessments. The report is well worth having for a refresher. for a rcference, or for a basis on which to develop new ideas for improving or more effectively implementing the NWPA. An obvious but overwhelming challenge comes from a report conclusion that "the implementation of the NWPA depends on regaining public confidence." Read on for the detailed recommendations on how the authors believe that this can be accomplished,
Acronyms Associated with the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Program, by C. Runyan. (18 pp.)
phone number for the organization. It is useful for state legislatures involved in the HLW program.
This State Legislative report is a compilation of acronyms associated with the high-level waste (HLW) program. The report includes a definition of the acronym and, where appropriate, an address and
Margaret M. Dolan Ebasco Environmental Company Bellevue, WA 98004-4405
State Legislative Report, State Asbestos Programs: The Fee-based Financing Alternative, by D. K. Neilander and D. M. Sacarto. (8 pp.) This report, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, offers fee-based financing as the solution to growing demands on state resources to administer the regulatory and enforcement requirements of the 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). Four states
Dillard B. Shipler Science Applications International Corporation Las Vegas, NV, USA
that have developed fee-based financing approaches are used as examples to examine the various components, methods, and legislative authorization in establishing a fee-based program. This report provides useful information for state policy makers.
Margaret M. Dolan Ebasco Environmental Company Bellevue, WA 98004-4405