1. Welcome! Environmental Policy Analysis EM 650 Thursday, Jun 7, 2012 Dr. Carolyn M. Macola

2. Administrative Issues If interested in filing for an incomplete for this class, please send me a separate email and I will walk through the process with you. Anything else to review/explain? Class Answer Please (CAP) Before I start this week’s audio, let’s start off with this question: Greenberg believes nuclear policy is 2nd only to war/terrorism in this country; do you agree? If so, why? If not, why not? CAP

3. Time & Flexibility Criterion (Greenberg, Chap 6) (1)

4. Time & Flexibility Criterion (Greenberg, Chap 6) (2) Atomic Energy Act - 1946 –Atomic Energy Commission –Military use only 1954 –Civilian nuclear reactors 1954, amended –Agreement States (currently 33) (states assume responsibility for their own nuclear power plants –Established Federal exclusive jurisdiction

5. Time & Flexibility Criterion (Greenberg, Chap 6) (3) (Presidential) Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970 –Established Environmental Protection Agency –Transferred some AEA responsibilities to EPA http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/ Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 –Abolished Atomic Energy Commission –Energy Research and Development Administration (changed to Department of Energy in 1977) –Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Regulatory Commission –Source Material –Special Nuclear Material –Byproduct Material

6. Time & Flexibility Criterion (Greenberg, Chap 6) (4) Public perception –Three Mile Island (1979) –Chernobyl (1984) –And now, Fukushima (2012) As a sidenote, please be aware that around 33K people are killed in car accidents every year – there is “hard” data yet what are we doing about this fact? –http://www- fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx Author believes Federal Government should oversee; do you agree? If so, why? If not, why not? CAP However, time has seen some shifting….

7. Time & Flexibility Criterion (Greenberg, Chap 6) (5) Kyoto Protocols –Nuclear energy an alternative US not a signatory! Gas Prices Rising USA dependent on foreign oil Central Storage Area Designed –Yucca Mountain (NV) Threats of Terrorism Shift discussion to using science…

8. Environmental Science & Policy Article (Lovbrand & Oberg) Interesting article proposing that environmental policy should not be based on scientific findings. Why do you think these authors would take this approach? CAP

9. Unit 8 Summary Time has slowly shifted the perception of using nuclear energy in this country to the point it is “discussed”; however, there is still uncertainity in the protection of the environment in case of malfunction. Flexibility “pushed” because of rising gas prices and concerns with greenhouse emissions. Fascinating video about how life continues to flourish around Chernobyl: http://www.ebu.ch/en/eurovisiontv/science_education/ch ernobyl.php Next seminar - Thursday (14 Jun 12). “See” you then! Any comments/questions before we wrap-up Unit 8’s seminar? As always, have a wonderful week!