Community Considerations in Siting a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility

RER-67

Audeen W. Fentiman
Jeffery A. Henkel
Joyce E. Meredith

Siting a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility means finding a suitable location for that facility. First, and foremost, the location must have physical characteristics that will enable a disposal facility built there to be operated safely and to confine the low-level radioactive waste for the required time.

But finding a suitable location also involves social and economic considerations. The host community should be satisfied that questions related to human health, environmental protection, quality of life, economic impact, and other concerns, perhaps unique to that community, have been addressed satisfactorily. In addition, the host community may want to be compensated in some way for having a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility nearby. Disposal facility operators have in the past offered the host community protection, compensation, incentives, and an opportunity to negotiate these items. Public involvement can be encouraged in the siting process, and community members can have an opportunity to discuss topics of concern.

This fact sheet briefly outlines research that must be done to determine the physical characteristics of the site. It then describes some of the protections, compensation, and incentives offered to host communities in other states and presents a short discussion of opportunities for public participation.

Specific protections and incentives for the host community in Ohio have not yet been determined. Plans for public participation in Ohio's siting process are also incomplete. These topics are likely to be addressed in the enabling legislation on low-level radioactive waste disposal that is expected to be considered by Ohio's General Assembly in 1993.

Determining Physical Characteristics of the Site

Siting a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility involves data collection and scientific analyses to determine the characteristics of the site. A variety of detailed studies are done, including those to:

• characterize the geology and soil,
• establish weather patterns,
• identify surface and ground water sources and flow patterns, and
• determine the frequency of earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural hazards for the area.

Community Considerations

When a site is found which has the physical characteristics required to host a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, the social and economic impact on the surrounding area must also be considered. The host community may want to assure itself that the proposed disposal facility will be built and operated safely. It also may desire compensation for having a region-wide low-level waste disposal facility nearby. The compensation is intended to offset the costs of new or improved roads, bridges, emergency response units, etc. or to assure residents that they will not bear any economic burden related to decreased property values or a reduced tax base.

Some of the protections, compensation, and incentives which have been offered by low-level radioactive waste disposal facility operators in other compacts include:

• availability of the results of all environmental monitoring,
• payments to the host community in an amount equal to the property taxes which would otherwise have been collected for the site property if it were privately owned,
• payment to the host community for the loss of tax revenue from adjacent property, if the property is shown to have decreased in value as a direct result of building the facility,
• payment to the owner of adjacent property for the property value loss, if the property is shown to have decreased in value as a direct result of building the facility,
• a gross receipts tax assessed on the facility to generate revenue for the local host government,
• an annual privilege license tax paid by the operators to the local host government to pay for expenses not covered by other compensation,
• establishment of a long-term care fund for use after the site closes,
• payment for increased emergency response units which could be activated during site operation,
• establishment of funds for the host community to perform independent environmental monitoring, and
• authority for the local community to close the facility if there is any threat to public health or safety.

The protections and incentives offered in Ohio will depend on the enabling legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly. The legislation may include all or some of those items above, or may include some not listed.

Several opportunities for public participation are generally provided, giving the public a chance to discuss a full range of issues. Public participation in other states varies and has included review of documents, hearings, monitoring committees, negotiations on the compensation to be offered to the host community, and establishing independent environmental monitoring stations.

For More Information

The specific opportunities for public participation in selecting a low-level radioactive waste disposal site in Ohio have not yet been defined. They will be outlined in the enabling legislation and subsequent planning documents required by that legislation. A fact sheet entitled "Public Participation in Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Selection in Ohio" will be written when the information becomes available.

Author Notes:

Dr. Audeen W. Fentiman is an Assistant Professor in Nuclear Engineering at The Ohio State University. Jeffery A. Henkel is Graduate Research Associate in Nuclear Engineering. Joyce E. Meredith is a Graduate Research Associate, Ohio State University Extension.