Equity and location

Nuclear waste disposal sites are among those energy facilities which are considered public ''bads'' and which are related to equity issues in terms of their direct and indirect impact on a locale, the distributional effect the site has on the relative quality of life, and the process of decision making, including the opportunity for participation. These issues are reviewed, and the conclusion reached that decisions to site noxious facilities will depend on how advantages are to be distributed and how decision makers respond to locational concerns. Recommendations based on experience suggest that equity of outcome is more important than that of process, but that the constituency of each facility should have a role in the decision making process. Other recommendations include a national data bank, coordination of siting, and training for policymakers. 28 references, 5 figures, 1 table