Full metadata
Title
Environmental justice issues in communities hosting US nuclear power plants
Description
This study explores the potential risks associated with the 65 U.S.-based commercial nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the distribution of those risks among the populations of both their respective host communities and of the communities located in outlying areas. First, I examine the relevant environmental justice issues. I start by examining the racial/ethnic composition of the host community populations, as well as the disparities in socio-economic status that exist, if any, between the host communities and communities located in outlying areas. Second, I estimate the statistical associations that exist, if any, between a population's distance from a NPP and several independent variables. I conduct multivariate ordinary least square (OLS) regression analyses and spatial autocorrelation regression (SAR) analyses at the national, regional and individual-NPP levels. Third, I construct a NPP potential risk index (NPP PRI) that defines four discrete risk categories--namely, very high risk, high risk, moderate risk, and low risk. The NPP PRI allows me then to estimate the demographic characteristics of the populations exposed to each so-defined level of risk. Fourth, using the Palo Verde NPP as the subject, I simulate a scenario in which a NPP experiences a core-damage accident. I use the RASCAL 4.3 software to simulate the path of dispersion of the resultant radioactive plume, and to investigate the statistical associations that exist, if any, between the dispersed radioactive plume and the demographic characteristics of the populations located within the plume's footprint. This study utilizes distributive justice theories to understand the distribution of the potential risks associated with NPPs, many of which are unpredictable, irreversible and inescapable. I employ an approach that takes into account multiple stakeholders in order to provide avenues for all parties to express concerns, and to ensure the relevance and actionability of any resulting policy recommendations.
Date Created
2014
Contributors
- Kyne, Dean (Author)
- Bolin, Bob (Thesis advisor)
- Boone, Christopher (Committee member)
- Pijawka, David (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
- environmental justice
- Geography
- Social Research
- Core-damage Accident
- environmental justice
- Nuclear Power Plant Potential Risk Index (NPP PRI)
- Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant
- Ratioactive Plume Dispersion
- US Nuclear Power Plants
- Nuclear power plants--Risk assessment--United States.
- Nuclear power plants
- Nuclear power plants--Risk assessment--Arizona--Maricopa County.
- Nuclear power plants
- Environmental justice--Risk assessment--United States.
- environmental justice
- Environmental justice--Risk assessment--Arizona--Maricopa County.
- environmental justice
Resource Type
Extent
xviii, 668 p. : col. ill
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.24801
Statement of Responsibility
by Dean Kyne
Level of coding
full
Note
thesis
Partial requirement for: Ph. D., Arizona State University, 2014
bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-192)
Field of study: Environmental social science
System Created
- 2014-06-09 02:07:03
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:36:01
- 3 years 2 months ago
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