Environmental Impact of Nuclear Power Plants contains the proceedings of a conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 26-30, 1974 and sponsored by the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Nuclear Engineering. The papers focus on the environmental impact of nuclear power plants and are organized into six parts: plant site selection; ecosystems and ecological effects; radioactive waste and thermal pollution; standards and guidelines in the preparation of environmental reports; cost-benefit analysis; environmental impact studies of various power sources. Comprised of 23 chapters, this book begins with an assessment of siting considerations for nuclear power plants from a government perspective. The instrument used by Florida Power & Light in evaluating a power plant site is described, along with an ecosystem approach to atomic energy development. The discussion then turns to impact assessment for nuclear power plants and its implications for ecological and environmental sciences; radioactive waste systems and radioactive effluents; engineering aspects of heat dissipation in water bodies; and transportation of nuclear materials. Subsequent chapters deal with recommendations, standards, and regulations concerning the preparation of environmental reports for nuclear power plants; cost-benefit analysis in nuclear power plant licensing actions; and radioactive waste discharges at nuclear power plants. This monograph will be of interest to nuclear engineers and environmental policymakers.

Comparison of overall risk from accidental releases of radioactivity to the environment for floating and land-based nuclear plants and an integrated cost-benefit analysis for the floating nuclear plant concept.

This publication provides a holistic approach to environmental protection in new nuclear power programs. It describes the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, the subsequent utilization of the EIA, and the necessary infrastructure for such processes. The presumption is that a Member State embarking on such a program already has an environmental regulatory framework in place, which may not be developed for nuclear power but for industrial projects, therefore the emphasis is on the environmental aspects that are unique to a nuclear power plant project. The publication is addressed to senior managers, project managers or coordinators and technical specialists of government authorities and agencies, including the regulatory body, operating organizations and supporting industries and other organizations involved in environmental issues.