THE VULNERABILITY OF THE NEVADA VISITOR ECONOMY TO A REPOSITORY AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN

This article reviews the studies commissioned by the Nevada Nuclear Wa ste Project Office to estimate the economic impact of a high-level nuc lear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. Case studies found that visit or impacts occur for some analogous facilities, but not for others. As sessments of behavioral intent indicate that at least some economic ag ents would avoid visiting Nevada under repository scenarios. A third s et of studies tested the risk-aversion and negative-imagery models of visitor decision making; people avoid visiting places associated with either a significant health risk or negative imagery, but it has yet t o be shown that a repository would induce these perceptions in nearby places. In sum, the NWPO-sponsored studies suggest the potential for v isitor impacts, but do confirm that these effects will occur.