Public acceptance and the development of long-term radioactive waste management policy

The UK Government will shortly embark on "a detailed and wide-ranging consultation" concerning future policy for the long-term management of solid radioactive wastes. The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee, RWMAC, has argued that the way to formulate a policy that has a good chance of being eventually implemented is by wide public consultation from which the policy is seen to emerge with clearly articulated public views. Such views will legitimise the policy. Suggestions are offered concerning how the process of policy formulation should be conducted and how it should be overseen. Some thoughts on incentives for success are appended.