Nuclear Waste

Disposal of the wastes produced by the peaceful applications of nuclear energy is commonly perceived as one of the most complex environmental problems of our time. Evidence of this concern is seen in the difficulties encountered in selecting suitable sites for final repositories for this waste - difficulties that critically affect the whole issue of the social acceptance of nuclear energy.

Nevertheless, science and technology are able today to provide safe and reliable solutions for the disposal of nuclear waste, much more so than for any other hazardous by-product of industrial activities.

This discrepancy between public perception and actual technological achievements is largely the result of a disinformation campaign perpetuated for almost a quarter of century by antinuclear activists. This has been compounded by the lack of an effective response from scientists and engineers involved in waste management, many of whom, especially after Chernobyl, did not feel comfortable speaking out in public in defence of the technology that they had developed.

This book tries to explain the origin of the negative public perception of nuclear energy and introduces the most significant worldwide technical achievements in nuclear waste disposal.

Texte du rabat

Foreword Over the past decades, Piero Risoluti has built up an intimate knowl­ edge of the nuclear industry - in particular of nuclear waste man­ agement. In this book, his scientific understanding is apparent - for example in his comprehensive but readily understandable descrip­ tions of waste conditioning and disposal. Moreover, he has also been directly involved in the wider societal and political debates in the nuclear area - especially in his Italian homeland. What shines through in these pages is.his frustration at the lack of progress in im­ plementing disposal concepts that are judged by many to be very safe and his unfaltering drive to improve this situation. To provoke debate, the book is very deliberately written in a po­ larising, black and white style that can easily be labelled as "politi­ cally incorrect" - a characterisation that Piero will probably agree with and be amused by. Criticism is directed equally at "loud­ mouthed and incompetent anti-nuclear environmentalists", the "nu­ clear Byzantium" of the international nuclear establishment, the "in­ tellectual narcissism" of those nuclear experts that dare to admit the importance of societal issues, and the tendency of politicians to "in­ definite procrastination". These are not words chosen to avoid open confrontation of opposing views.

Contenu

1. The problem.- 2. A special energy and its enemies.- 3. Before and after Chernobyl.- 4. Technical issues.- 5. Nuclear Waste and Democracy.