Overview of Public Participation for Nuclear Power Plant in China Xiaodong Huang Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute, Shanghai,China 2013.09.03
Contents 1 Phase of NPP construction in China 2 Public participation for NPP in China 3 Stakeholders in public participation for NPP 4 Main concern of the stakeholders 5 Case analysis 6 Questions
Phase of nuclear power plant construction in China PHASE Pre-feasibility Study Feasibility Study Preliminary Design Construction Design Pre-feasibility study report Project proposal Feasibility study report EIA (site selection phase) Site safety analysis report Social stability analysis and evaluation PSAR EIA (construction phase) Occupational safety and health FSAR EIA (operation phase) Decommission EIA (retirement phase)
Public participation for nuclear power plants in China Requirements related to public participation: Environmental Impact Assessment Social Stability Risk Assessment Information bulletin Questionnaire survey Forms of public participation Public forums Hearing others
Public participation for nuclear power plants in China Social Stability Risk Assessment : According to the requirement of national development and reform commission, major projects of investment in fixed assets must carry out social stability risk assessment. When carrying out major projects early work, owners shall conduct investigation and analysis on social stability risk, consult the relevant public opinion, to find the risk point, the occurrence possibility of a risk and the influence degree, to put forward solution measures to guard against and dissolve the risk. The level of risk is divided into three grade: high risk, medium risk and low risk. Through the analysis of evaluation, if there is a high risk or medium risk, then this project will not be accepted.
Stakeholders in public participation for NPP Local government Relocated households Direct and indirect stakeholders Affected farmers Companies in the planning restricted area The crowd of adjacent districts or cities Local citizen Local electricity companies Local property developers
Main concern of the stakeholders Environmental impact and radiation impact. The probability of accidents and the accident consequences. Impact of radiation waste. Compensation for land expropriation. Impact of thermal discharge to aquaculture. Impact on the local economy, culture, employment, etc.
Case analysis Some AP1000 NPP site: Information bulletin (twice) Through newspaper, public websites, broadcast and so on First: within 7 days after confirmed the EIA institution During the period of announcement, we only received 5 person s question about the safety of nuclear power plant by E-mail. We timely gave a reply and got his understanding and support. Second: finish the EIA report During the period of announcement, we received 24 opponents e-mail or fax. We replied one by one in order to find the root of the opposition. Through the exchange and communication, we got most people s understand. There were still a few people opposed for their fear of nuclear accident, especially after the Fukushima accident.
Case analysis Questionnaire survey (500 people) Scope: mainly focused on the 5km range (planning restricted area) 35 opponents Through the exchange and communication, the number of opponents dropped to 15. Public forums (30 people) government representatives society groups representatives farmer representatives business representatives relocated households representatives citizen representatives and so on
Case analysis Jiangmen Event (Nuclear fuel processing project in Jiangmen city, Guangdong Province, China): Course of the event: EIA launched in March 2013, local media and website have released relevant information, but not much response from all walks of life. July 4, 2013, the social stability risk assessment was released to solicit public opinion on the project, the number of opponents is quickly increased on the Internet. Opponents comes mainly from the neighboring districts and cities. Objection comes mainly from property developers. July 13, 2013,the local government announced at the news conference, because of more opposition to this project from the social people from all walks of life, this project is not applied. Cause analysis: Public participation was without fully considering the stakeholders. The public's lack of understanding of nuclear fuel processing projects. The scope of public participation was too small.
Questions What is the ultimate goal of public participation? Let the public support for nuclear power or make public understanding or accepting nuclear power? or the others? How do we judge or measure of public participation is a success? Approval rating (100%? 90%? 80%? ) or the others?
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