The role of stake holders in the Italian debate on the national radioactive waste deposit

Full text: In early 2003, following an increased concern about the international terrorist threat, the Italian Government declared an emergency status for national nuclear installations, and in particular for radioactive waste deposits. A working group of experts - mainly from the Society for the Management of Nuclear Installations (SOGIN) and the Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment (ENEA) - was appointed and charged with the analysis of the technical aspects implied in the creation of a repository to host permanently LLRW and MLRW as well as to host temporarily HLRW. In November 2003 the Italian Government passed a decree to authorize the creation of a national nuclear waste repository within a geological salt deposit in the territory of Scanzano Jonico, in the Basilicata Region. The decision was made without any negotiation with the local population and the authorities of Scanzano Jonico. The lack of transparent communication and the attempt to impose the project 'from the top' was perceived as a 'deceptive strategy'. The population of the entire region spontaneously organized a mass protest movement against the project; blockades were carried out on the major highway connecting Northern to Southern Italy and the controversy gained the attention of the national mass media. Two weeks later, the Italian government withdrew the decree. Presently, the Italian nuclear waste is distributed over more than 20 locations in 11 different Regions, and the creation of a national disposal site has been postponed. The present study aims at highlighting the reasons behind social conflicts on nuclear waste risks. We will examine the attitudes and the communication strategies of the different stake holders which took part in the public debate on the Italian nuclear waste dump. Drawing on methodologies used in media studies, we are carrying out a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the main national and local newspapers in order to draw a 'map' of the communicative dynamics between the stake holders involved in the public debate on the Scanzano Jonico case. The communicative strategies of the opponents to the project will be further examined by studying the particular language usages (metaphors, dominant representations, images, etc.) found in articles as well as in documents published in their web sites. Scanzano Jonico could be considered a paradigmatic example of governance's failure and a useful case study to better understand the role played by risk communication and stake holders' engagement in science-and-technology-based controversies and decision-making processes. These analyses, providing a vivid testimony of the communicative dynamics that oriented the different stake holders in decision-making processes, could offer more insights into the development of effective strategies on risk management, with particular regard to present and future controversies on nuclear safety and to radiation protection decision-making. (author)