The Nuclear Enterprise: High-Consequence Accidents: How to Enhance Safety and Minimize Risks in Nuclear Weapons and Reactors

by George P. Shultz (Editor), Sidney D. Drell (Editor)

Overview

A panel of expert contributors offers its views on the risks and rewards of the nuclear enterprise, focusing on issues of safety, regulation, and public perception. Contributors discuss specific experience and issues regarding the technical safety of weapons and power plants, management operations, regulatory measures, and the importance of accurate communication by the media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780817915247
Publisher:	Hoover Institution Press
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Series:	Hoover Institution Press Publication (Hardcover)
Edition description:	1
Pages:	388
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

George P. Shultz is the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and has had a distinguished career in government, in academia, and in business. He lives in San Francisco. Sidney D. Drell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and professor of theoretical physics emeritus at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University. He lives in Palo Alto, California.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations vii

List of Figures and Tables ix

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xvii

Introduction Sidney D. Drell George P. Shultz Steven P. Andreasen 1

Session I Safety Issues-Nuclear Weapons

1 Designing and Building Nuclear Weapons to Meet High Safety Standards Sidney D. Drell 25

2 A Personal Account of Steps Toward Achieving Safer Nuclear Weapons in the U.S. Arsenal Robert L. Peurifoy 67

3 The interplay Between Civilian and Military Nuclear Risk Assessment, and Sobering Lessons from Fukushima and the Space Shuttle Christopher Stubbs 91

4 Long-Range Effects of Nuclear Disasters Raymond Jeanloz 107

5 Naval Nuclear Power as a Model for Civilian Applications Drew Dewalt 127

Session II Nuclear Reactor Safety

6 Lessons Learned of "Lessons Learned": Evolution in Nuclear Power Safety and Operations Edward Blandford Michael May 137

7 Nuclear Technology Development: Evolution or Gamble? Per F. Peterson Regis A. Matzie 173

8 The Spent Fuel Problem Robert J.Budnitz 203

9 International Issues Related to Nuclear Energy William F. Martin Burton Richter 209

10 Fukushima and the Future of Nuclear Power in China and India Jeremy Carl 235

Session III Economic and Regulatory Issues

11 The Capture Theory of Regulation Gary S. Becker 263

12 The Federal Regulatory Process as a Constraint on Regulatory Capture John F. Cogan 269

13 A Comparison of Government Regulation of Risk in the Financial Services and Nuclear Power Industries John B. Taylor Frank A. Wolak 275

14 Discussion Notes on the Economics of Nuclear Energy Michael J. Boskin 297

Session IV Media and Public Policy

15 Media and Public Policy Jim Hoagland 311

16 The Nuclear Credibility Gap: Three Crises David E. Hoffman 317

Conference Agenda 345

About the Authors 347

Index 354