OPPORTUNITY THREAT RESPONSES TO NUCLEAR WASTE-DISPOSAL FACILITIES

One of the most difficult environmental policy challenges facing the U nited States and other societies is that of finding ways to safely dis pose of hazardous and toxic substances, including nuclear waste materi als. Efforts to site such facilities have been uniformly unsuccessful, due largely to strong public opposition. Although supporters of such facilities often emphasize the potential for local economic developmen t and other opportunities, opponents focus on a variety of threats inv olving potential risks associated with waste disposal. Survey data col lected in rural areas of Nevada and Nebraska where nuclear waste dispo sal facilities have been proposed reveal that respondents' positions o n issues of perceived health and safety risks, trust in responsible ag encies, anticipated local economic effects, and concerns about environ mental contamination are key variables predicting local response. Even in areas where there may be substantial local support for economic op portunities associated with the facilities, broad-based fears about nu clear materials and a legacy of distrust in the agencies responsible f or managing nuclear wastes suggest that proposals for such facilities will almost inevitably continue to generate strong public opposition.