Analysis of participation at nuclear waste meetings: the representation of divergent concerns

This article analyzes participation at nuclear waste meetings. Among the principle findings are the following: 1) Citizen group participation has increased in comparison with expert, government, and industry participation. It has expanded to include individuals and groups that in the past may have been underrepresented. 2) Divergent concerns can be a critical problem in the conduct of public meetings. However, efforts can be made to harmonize divergent concerns by structuring meetings according to a working group technique. The social science literature on public participation is reviewed, patterns of participation at past meetings discussed, and the arguments for and against greater participation examined. (Auth.)