Abstract

This thesis addresses the issue of public participation in the implementation of nuclear waste management (NWM) strategies by comparing the NWM programs of Sweden and Canada. It begins with a comparison of the progress and current status of the Swedish and Canadian NWM programs, which illustrates that the Swedish program is further ahead in terms of obtaining approval for a disposal method. Next, quantitative analyses were performed on three measures of public engagement, which revealed that the proponents of Sweden's NWM program have focused on public participation much more than their Canadian counterparts. Lastly, a comparison was made between the level of public awareness regarding nuclear waste and public support for the NWM programs of each country. The analysis indicated that there is a greater level of both public awareness of the nuclear waste issue and public support for the NWM program in Sweden than there is in Canada.

Highlights

  • Background and ContextNuclear waste management is a significant problem faced by all nations that employ a nuclear energy industry

  • Seventeen countries currently rely on nuclear energy for at least a quarter o f their electricity needs (WNA, 2004); while in France over 75% o f the electricity is generated by nuclear energy (Wilson, 1996)

  • The directive was based on the results o f a study conducted by a panel o f experts led by Dr Kenneth Hare, which stated that geological disposal of nuclear fuel wastes had the best potential (CEAA, 1998)

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Summary

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE SWEDISH AND CANADIAN PROCESSES

The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. This thesis addresses the issue o f public participation in the implementation of nuclear waste management (NWM) strategies by comparing the NWM programs of Sweden and Canada. It begins with a comparison of the progress and current status of the Swedish and Canadian NWM programs, which illustrates that the Swedish program is further ahead in terms of obtaining approval for a disposal method. The analyses indicated that there is a greater level o f both public awareness of the nuclear waste issue and public support for the NWM program in Sweden than there is in Canada. A great big thank you goes out to m y ‘dahlings’, Jessam yn and Lili for always being there for me, keeping me in line, keeping me sane and providing me with the occasional much needed distractions

Background and Context
S tatem en t of Problem
Research Objectives
Organization of Thesis
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Sw eden’s Nuclear W aste M anagement Program
C anada’s Nuclear W aste M anagement Program
P ublic Opposition —Not-In-M y-Back- Yard
Roots o fPublic Opposition
Overcoming Opposition
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Assumptions and Limitations
Progress and Current Status of NWM Programs
Access to Information
Level o f Contact
Financial Resources D evoted to Public Engagement
Public Awareness of Nuclear Waste Issues and Support for NWM Programs
D isc u ssio n
Limitations
Findings
Conclusions

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