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Perceived Risk, Stigma, and Potential Economic Impacts of a High‐Level Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada

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  • Paul Slovic
  • Mark Layman
  • Nancy Kraus
  • James Flynn
  • James Chalmers
  • Gail Gesell

Abstract

This study investigates the potential impacts of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, upon tourism, retirement and job‐related migration, and business development in Las Vegas and the state. Adverse impacts may be expected to result from perceptions of risk, stigmatization, and socially amplified reactions to “unfortunate events” associated with the repository (major and minor accidents, discoveries of radiation releases, evidence of mismanagement, attempts to sabotage or disrupt the facility, etc.). The conceptual underpinnings of risk perception, stigmatization, and social amplification are discussed and empirical data are presented to demonstrate how nuclear images associated with Las Vegas and the State of Nevada might trigger adverse economic effects. The possibility that intense negative imagery associated with the repository may cause significant harm to Nevada's economy can no longer be ignored by serious attempts to assess the risks and impacts of this unique facility. The behavioral processes described here appear relevant as well to the social impact assessment of any proposed facility that produces, uses, transports, or disposes of hazardous materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Slovic & Mark Layman & Nancy Kraus & James Flynn & James Chalmers & Gail Gesell, 1991. "Perceived Risk, Stigma, and Potential Economic Impacts of a High‐Level Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), pages 683-696, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:11:y:1991:i:4:p:683-696
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1991.tb00658.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaeyoung Lim & Kuk-Kyoung Moon, 2021. "Can Political Trust Weaken the Relationship between Perceived Environmental Threats and Perceived Nuclear Threats? Evidence from South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    2. William C. Metz, 1996. "Historical Application of a Social Amplification of Risk Model: Economic Impacts of Risk Events at Nuclear Weapons Facilities," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(2), pages 185-193, April.
    3. Gilbert W. Bassett & Ross C. Hemphill, 1991. "Comments on “Perceived Risk, Stigma, and Potential Economic Impacts of a High‐Level Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada”," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), pages 697-700, December.
    4. Michael Greenberg & Karen Lowrie, 2014. "Paul Slovic: Risk Perceptions and Affect," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(2), pages 206-209, February.
    5. Paul Slovic, 1999. "Trust, Emotion, Sex, Politics, and Science: Surveying the Risk‐Assessment Battlefield," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(4), pages 689-701, August.
    6. Jung, Yoonhyuk & Park, Jonghwa, 2018. "An investigation of relationships among privacy concerns, affective responses, and coping behaviors in location-based services," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 15-24.
    7. McCluskey, Jill & Rausser, Gordon C., 1999. "Stigmatized asset value: is it temporary or permanent?," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt59b1t566, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    8. Christopher D. Wirz & Michael A. Xenos & Dominique Brossard & Dietram Scheufele & Jennifer H. Chung & Luisa Massarani, 2018. "Rethinking Social Amplification of Risk: Social Media and Zika in Three Languages," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(12), pages 2599-2624, December.
    9. Miki Yokoyama & Susumu Ohnuma & Hideaki Osawa & Shoji Ohtomo & Yukio Hirose, 2023. "Public acceptance of nuclear waste disposal sites: a decision-making process utilising the ‘veil of ignorance’ concept," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Gordon, Joel A. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Nabavi, Seyed Ali, 2022. "Beyond the triangle of renewable energy acceptance: The five dimensions of domestic hydrogen acceptance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    11. Hank C. Jenkins‐Smith & Carol L. Silva & Matthew C. Nowlin & Grant deLozier, 2011. "Reversing Nuclear Opposition: Evolving Public Acceptance of a Permanent Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 629-644, April.
    12. McCluskey, Jill & Rausser, Gordon C., 1999. "Stigmatized asset value: is it temporary or permanent?," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt59b1t566, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    13. Maarten Wolsink, 1994. "Entanglement of Interests and Motives: Assumptions behind the NIMBY-theory on Facility Siting," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(6), pages 851-866, June.
    14. Paul Slovic & James Flynn & Robin Gregory, 1994. "Stigma Happens: Social Problems in the Siting of Nuclear Waste Facilities," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(5), pages 773-777, October.
    15. Cousse, Julia, 2021. "Still in love with solar energy? Installation size, affect, and the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    16. Donald MacGregor & Paul Slovic & Robert G. Mason & John Detweiler & Stephen E. Binney & Brian Dodd, 1994. "Perceived Risks of Radioactive Waste Transport Through Oregon: Results of a Statewide Survey," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 5-14, February.
    17. David J. Ball & John Watt, 2013. "Further Thoughts on the Utility of Risk Matrices," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(11), pages 2068-2078, November.
    18. Christian Oltra & Paul Upham & Hauke Riesch & Àlex Boso & Suzanne Brunsting & Elisabeth Dütschke & Aleksandra Lis, 2012. "Public Responses to Co2 Storage Sites: Lessons from Five European Cases," Energy & Environment, , vol. 23(2-3), pages 227-248, May.
    19. William C. Metz, 1994. "Potential Negative Impacts of Nuclear Activities on Local Economies: Rethinking the Issue," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(5), pages 763-770, October.
    20. William C. Metz & David E. Clark, 1997. "The Effect of Decisions About Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage on Residential Property Values," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(5), pages 571-582, October.
    21. James Flynn & William Burns & C.K. Mertz & Paul Slovic, 1992. "Trust as a Determinant of Opposition to a High‐Level Radioactive Waste Repository: Analysis of a Structural Model," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(3), pages 417-429, September.

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