1. Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Introduction
Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Introduction
The scenario:
Our small country is having a nuclear waste problem.
Nuclear waste can be stored deep down underground in a stable geologic formation where the radioactivity can reduce to a safe level after 10,000s of years.
There is only one location in our country that have these conditions.
The location is in a nature reserve with a rare tiger.
The nature reserve in close to two villages and the water supply for a large area.

2. Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Ethical problems
Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Ethical problems
Ethical problems with nuclear waste storage:
Is it ethical to expose the people in the village to the risk of the waste leaking?
Is it ethical to expose the nature reserve and rare tigers to the risk of the waste leaking?
Is it ethical to expose the water supply and hence, the greater food chain to the risk of the waste leaking?
Is it ethical to expose the people in the village to risk, because of societies problems?

3. Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste
Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste
Alternatives to geological storage of the waste:
Send the waste into space
Wait and rely on future innovations
Store the waste on the surface
Pay another country to take care of the waste

4. Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste
Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste
Groups, individuals, organizations, etc., that will be affected if the geological storage site is (or is not) built:
Society in general
Environment
Local population
The endemic tiger
Government
Tiger activists
Researchers
The seismological network
Engineering contractors
Companies currently storing the waste
Future generations
Etc.

5. Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes
Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes:
We should prevent harm to humans
We should prevent harm to the environment
We should forfeit the rights of the few for the needs of greater society
We should solve this problem today, so that future generations are not burdened by it
It is not fair to put the people and environment close to a storage site at risk
It is important to have access to the waste, as it could be valuable to future generations
It is important to make sure the waste does not fall into the wrong hands
It is unrealistic to expect a storage facility to work, it must last longer than any human construction in modern civilisation (storage required for 10,000s of years)
It is important not to exploit other countries
It is important to find a permanent solution to this problem

6. Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes
Geological storage
Send into space
Store on the surface
Send elsewhere
Wait
Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes:
We should prevent harm to humans
We should prevent harm to the environment
We should forfeit the rights of the few for the needs of greater society
We should solve this problem today, so that future generations are not burdened by it
It is not fair to put the people and environment close to a storage site at risk
It is important to have access to the waste, as it could be valuable to future generations
It is important to make sure the waste does not fall into the wrong hands
It is unrealistic to expect a storage facility to work, it must last longer than any human construction in modern civilisation (storage required for 10,000s of years)
It is important not to exploit other countries
It is important to find a permanent solution to this problem

7. Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage
Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II
Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage
Optimal situation
Optimal solutions regarding ethical aspect:
Give the local residents the chance to veto the decision to locate the storage site in their area
Compensation or re-location for local residents
Environmental rescue plan, save the tigers!
Give society a chance to vote on the decision
Other more suitable geological storage site in another part of the world