The Nuclear Energy Commit-tee is considering relaxing the ban on development in areas surrounding nuclear plants, as it drafts the Nuclear Reactor Facility Control Act (
However, the focus should not be on whether the new law would bring prosperity to areas near the plants, for that would require more than simply lifting controls on land usage. The focus should be on whether the government has a policy ready to deal with the possible chain reaction that might follow enactment of the bill. If this is not done, this supposedly beneficial policy will become the root of many future evils.
As the potential hazards associated with nuclear plants are low-probability but high-impact risks, it is quite difficult to asses the actual level of danger. The ban on the development of nearby land is aimed at environmental disaster management and regulation of environmentally sensitive areas to prevent the potentially catastrophic effects of a nuclear disaster.
As the risk of a nuclear accident has not altered, why should we relax land useage regulations? Certain restrictions and conditions on development and the help of appropriate supporting measures are required. Otherwise, we would be leaving endless troubles for future generations and governments.
First, the Nuclear Energy Committee or some other organization, such as Taipower, should complete a comprehensive environmental risk evaluation based on the potential danger posed by nuclear plants. The results of the evaluation should be made public and residents from neighboring areas should be brought into discussions regarding the risks.
Residents should understand the risk of cancer and birth defects caused by living near a nuclear plant and also the risk of a nuclear explosion. Otherwise, a sudden relaxation of regulations may lead to conflict, protests and perhaps even public hygiene and other problems that the Nuclear Energy Committee would be much happier to avoid.
As for the prevention and management of the potential hazards, we need to establish a policy to spread the risks between local residents, the government and nuclear plant operators. The policy should at least include the establishment of an insurance system for environmental and nuclear hazards, as well as compensation and disaster-relief measures. Otherwise, the lifting of the ban may not only become a burden, it would be incompatible with the principles of efficiency and fairness.
Other important support measures include the establishment of an emergency disaster-relief system and a nuclear-disaster-prevention system, the improvement of the public health system, education on nuclear energy and the establishment of a government disaster-prevention system. If these systems are not adequately provided for, relaxing land use regulations would disregard the safety of the surrounding residents and expose them to heightened risk. This is truly irresponsible.
Using land surrounding nuclear plants also requires the establishment of an environmental risk management network. From the evaluation of environmental risk to the reduction of risk, from communicating the potential risks to the people to the establishment of social-relief and disaster-prevention systems, we need to have a comprehensive management policy.
Otherwise, the environmental conflict and social problems taking place after the relaxation of controls would further complicate and worsen the problems surrounding nuclear plants.
Hung Hung-chih is an associate professor of land administration at National Taipei University.
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