| The disposal of radioactive waste in the U.S. has been problematic from both regulatory and community acceptance perspectives since the early 1970s, when several facilities then in operation began to leak. The risks of environmental contamination by radioactive elements were considered to be higher than the potential tax and employment benefits that such facilities might provide. By the late 1970s, with no new disposal sites being planned, the three states with the last remaining facilities threatened to close them, claiming that it was someone else's turn to share the burden.;In 1980, the U.S. Congress passed the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act as a national guideline to what was then seen as a crisis in the nation's ability to provide for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. New facilities were to be opened to replace sites that had been in operation for 10 to 18 years. The policy encouraged states to site new facilities by creating their own regions. By building a few new facilities rather than many, decision-makers at that time believed that it would be easier both to convince the states to take responsibility for operating the disposal sites as well as to create fewer locations that would have to be secured and monitored.;Since the passage of the policy act, no new facilities have yet been opened, and the states seem unable to implement the regional solutions. Currently, only one facility remains open to the entire nation, and its future is in question. This dissertation reviews the history of radioactive waste disposal in the U.S. and the events that have taken place since 1980, including significant amendments made to the policy in 1985 and the efforts throughout the country that were made toward siting both new regional facilities designed to serve two or more states as well as efforts made in those states who attempted to site their own waste facilities. Major social, economic and political problems are identified that have stalled every siting effort well past the 1993 deadline for opening new disposal sites, which may well be the most unwanted of undesirable land uses.;In light of two primary considerations---rapidly declining amounts of low-level radioactive waste that require disposal and increasing public concerns over the dangers of living near such a facility---this research then suggests an alternative method of centering one or two disposal facilities. These proposed new locations include consideration of limiting the distance over which waste is shipped, and the amount of waste to be disposed of at each site in cases where more than one site is examined.;Concluding remarks compare the selection method used and results found by this research with other alternatives that have been proposed to the current siting process, and discuss other social and political problems that may arise out of any attempt to further limit the number of radioactive waste disposal facilities. |
