ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on what may be called the ‘institutional’ issues facing nuclear waste disposal policy makers. These are distinct from technological considerations of engineering and geology, and include socio-economic, financial, land use and, especially, political factors. Institutional issues must be resolved before a nuclear waste facility becomes operational, regardless of how technically suitable a site may be for nuclear waste disposal. Citizens in communities which have relatively strong land use controls will probably attempt to use them to impede a proposed disposal site in their community, regardless of any known public health or safety considerations. The geographical factors which should be considered in evaluating alternative routes for radioactive waste shipment are: proximity to population and large urban centres; quality of highways; terrain; climate. The geological repository will be an almost permanent feature of the local community since it is planned to isolate wastes for a thousand years or more.
