Author(s)

S. Conway, P. Washeba & I. Navis

Abstract

In 1987, Clark County was designated by the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of Energy as an \“affected unit of local government” under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act was designed to establish a location for a geologic high-level nuclear waste repository. Under the provisions of the Act, Clark County is permitted the opportunity to, among other things, conduct impact assessment studies and prepare reports to articulate the findings of those studies. Clark County staff and consultants have developed impact assessment studies and prepared reports in several key socioeconomic areas. This paper summarizes the potential socio-economic impacts that have been identified as part of Clark County’s Nuclear Waste program. These findings were incorporated into Clark County’s Impact Assessment Report on the Yucca Mountain Program that was submitted to the Department of Energy. The Impact Assessment Report has been distributed in paper and compact disk format, as well as being placed on the Department of Comprehensive Planning Website. Keywords: stigma, hazardous waste, nuclear, socio-economic, risk perception. 1 Introduction The Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) was designed to establish a location for a geologic high-level nuclear waste repository. In 1987, Clark County was designated by the United States Congress and the U.S. Department of Energy as an \“affected unit of local government” (AULG) under the Nuclear Waste Policy

Keywords

stigma, hazardous waste, nuclear, socio-economic, risk perception.