WHO HOLDS THE STAKES - A CASE-STUDY OF STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION AT 2 NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PRODUCTION SITES

Traditional risk assessments, including those involving the United Sta tes Department of Energy (USDOE), are often criticized for producing u seless or noncredible management responses because they did not meanin gfully involve the public. The first step to involve the public is to identify appropriate active participants (stakeholders). This study wa s done to understand the processes used to identify stakeholders to se rve on advisory boards established at the two largest remediation site s in the United States: the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The Hanford stake holder identification process produced an interest-based board whereas the Savannah River Site strategy produced population-based representa tion. The basic goals of the stakeholder advisory groups were similar. However, different processes were used to identify the participants f or the groups in part because of distinctly different social and cultu ral conditions in the areas affected by the operations of the two faci lities, and in part because of the different level of trust of the USD OE and their contractors at Hanford compared with Savannah River. The discussion analyzes their different needs and potential for successful citizen participation.