ABSTRACT
Many types of impacts are likely to result from the development of a high-level nuclear waste repository, and Federal and state decision makers, community leaders, and residents must know how communities in repository siting areas will be changed. This chapter identifies factors affecting an assessment of socioeconomic impacts, the types of socioeconomic impacts likely to occur as a result of a repository development, and the process for assessing socioeconomic impacts. The characteristics of a nuclear waste repository project relevant to socioeconomic impacts can be divided into its utilization of areal resources; and workforce requirements and characteristics. A community's history of economic and population growth or decline may influence how a repository development affects it. The characteristics of immigrating workers and their families affect socioeconomic impacts. Major socioeconomic impacts may occur in local communities because repository developments are large relative to the communities in which they are likely to be located.
