Consent-Based Siting of Spent Fuel Facilities: Evidence from Nationwide U.S. Surveys

Abstract

Spent nuclear fuel management in the United States is a national issue of growing importance. Scientists, engineers, and policymakers agree that an integrated policy that incorporates consolidated interim storage facilities and deep geologic repositories is both technically feasible and safe. However, past efforts to site such facilities have been met with formidable societal challenges. Recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Energy to find a sustainable solution for this problem has hinged on the principles of consent-based siting. Consent-based siting policies are complex, with many open questions about how to initiate the process, how to define and register consent, when consent can be withdrawn, and the role of trust in the different actors involved. It is crucial to understand and examine public preferences about these core features. To that end, this technical note provides input from members of the U.S. public using nationwide surveys on core aspects of a consent-based siting policy.