Consent-Based Siting Public Meeting in Chicago
Meeting Summary
On March 29, 2016, the Department of Energy’s consent-based siting initiative hosted its first public meeting in Chicago, Illinois at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center. The purpose of this meeting was to hear from the public and stakeholders on important elements in the design of a consent-based siting process. A consent-based siting process will support the development of facilities needed to manage spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including consolidated interim storage facilities and permanent geologic repositories.
The agenda included a presentation from the Department of Energy’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, John Kotek. Mr. Kotek discussed the nuclear energy activities that have brought us to this point, as well as described the Department’s vision for an integrated waste management system and the need for a consent-based approach to siting. This presentation was followed by a panel session with several experts providing diverse perspectives on the primary issues that need to be resolved in the design and implementation of a consent-based process. Participants then had the opportunity to comment or ask questions to the Department and the panelists.
Following this session, participants engaged in facilitated small group discussions on a variety of topics related to consent-based siting and integrated waste management. These small group discussions provided the opportunity for frank and open conversations on key topics that will inform the design of a consent-based process.
The agenda also included a public comment period and two open houses with poster sessions before and after the formal meeting. The open house sessions provided participants with the opportunity to engage in less formal discussions with the Department and other meeting attendees.
Approximately 40 members of the public attended the meeting in person with a similar number viewing the meeting via webinar.
Keynote and Panel
The meeting began remarks by Professor Robert Rosner, PhD, from the University of Chicago. His comments framed the challenges facing the United States with respect to the siting of nuclear waste management facilities and highlighted experiences and lessons from other countries that may be applied domestically.
His comments were followed by a presentation from John Kotek, Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. Mr. Kotek described the Administration’s integrated waste management strategy as well as reviewed the Department’s approach to developing a consent-based siting process. A copy of Mr. Kotek’s presentation can be found at the bottom of the page.
- The Honorable Mayor Al Hill, City of Zion
- Kim Wasserman-Nieto, Organizing and Strategy Director, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
- The Honorable Ann McCabe, Commissioner, Illinois Commerce Commission
- David Kraft, Director, Nuclear Energy Information Services
Mayor Hill’s comments focused on the experiences of the City of Zion, Illinois, which hosts a shutdown nuclear power plant currently undergoing decommissioning. The Mayor emphasized the negative socio-economic consequences associated with being an unwilling host to the spent nuclear fuel. Mayor Hill advocated for federal legislation to remedy this situation, as well as the prompt removal of the fuel to a more suitable location.
Following Mayor Hill’s remarks, Ms. Kim Wasserman-Nieto offered her thoughts on siting from an environmental justice perspective. Her comments focused on the issues of local capacity and decision-making and the strong need for transparency, trust, and collaboration among all parties. She also highlighted the significant information and resource needs of potentially interested communities to allow them to participate meaningfully in a consent-based siting process.
Commissioner Ann McCabe then spoke to the issue of consent-based siting from the point-of-view of those who regulate electric utilities. Commissioner McCabe’s comments focused on the lack of an effective nuclear waste management program, the associated negative impact to consumers of electricity, and the need for a sustainable solution.
Mr. David Kraft of the Nuclear Energy Information Service the provided comments suggesting alternatives to siting new storage facilities and highlighting the socio-economic, transportation, and environmental consequences associated with the Department’s program. Mr. Kraft also discussed issues surrounding trust and responsiveness to stakeholder concerns.
Speaker and panelist biographies are included at the bottom of the page.
Facilitated Question and Answer Session
Following the panel presentation, meeting participants asked questions to the panel members (including Mr. Kotek). Panel members engaged with the audience on several issues ranging from transportation of nuclear materials and fairness in siting practices to participation barriers and resource requirements faced by local communities.
Facilitated Small Group Discussions
After a short break, meeting participants were invited to join in facilitated small group discussions to explore the issues involved in consent-based siting. These discussions were facilitated by independent third-party professional facilitators. Participants formed four small groups, each consisting of six to eight members of the public. In addition, each group included a note taker and a Department representative. The groups met for approximately one hour and discussed a wide range of issues associated with developing a consent-based siting process. At the end of the one-hour discussion, the facilitator from each table highlighted his or her group’s discussion and reported key observations back to the larger meeting.
Key issues discussed during these small group discussions included, but were not limited to:
- Consent – How consent is defined and made to be durable, as well as the process to achieve it
- Organization – The improved organizational effectiveness that would result from the consent-based siting process existing within a separate organization outside of the Department
- Transparency and trust – The importance of transparency and trust in any public process regarding nuclear waste
- Resource needs – Access to sufficient resources by potential host communities to allow for their effective participation along with the availability of independent experts representing a range of applicable disciplines
- Transportation – How transportation considerations are factored into the consent-based siting process
A summary of the small group facilitated discussions is included at the bottom of this page.
Public Comment Period
Following the small group discussions, a 30-minute comment period took place to allow members of the public to make statements. These statements included but were not limited to:
- questioning the Department’s justification for the consent-based siting process
- calling for an increased number of better-publicized public meetings
- raising concerns regarding transportation of nuclear materials
- emphasizing environmental justice considerations in the consent-based siting process
- calling for greater public awareness of this issue
Closing Remarks
Following the public comment period, Mr. Andrew Griffith, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies, offered closing remarks in which he thanked the audience for their active and thoughtful participation and reinforced the Department’s commitment to stakeholder engagement as it moves forward with the consent-based siting process.
Thank you to all who participated!
