Establishing Trust: Nuclear Waste Disposal

Abstract

The U.S. effort to establish a permanent nuclear waste repository is threatened by a pervasive lack of trust that could undermine the entire program. Rather than examining the many technical debates involved, this paper addresses the pervasive and long‐standing lack of trust. The subject of trust itself is explored. It is reasoned that the lack of trust is a function, not of the individuals involved, but of the decision‐making process. An alternative process is presented.