The logic of the post-Fukushima nuclear safety regulation: Residual risk and ‘practical elimination’

Abstract

The fundamental objective of nuclear safety regulation is to ensure that nuclear facilities are operated in an acceptably safe way. The acceptable level of nuclear safety depends on the culture and traditions of their particular countries. This paper examines why nuclear risk has been selected as the target of avoidance in some countries and how nuclear safety regulation should address the concerns about residual risk. Based on the society's preference toward public risk equity rather than catastrophe risk aversion, the paper presents that the concept of practical elimination can address the residual risk problem. Two proposals are suggested for the logic of post-Fukushima nuclear safety regulation. First, rational decision-making scheme must expand to include the society's preference. If public risk equity is preferred, the practical elimination is realized by the finite level of low probability. Second, the dynamic search for continuous safety improvements is essential for ensuring that the residual risk is under control.