Public opinion in the site selection process: survey methodologies

Abstract. The aim of the site selection process (StandAV) is to find the repository site for high-level radioactive waste with the best possible safety. Transparency and public involvement contribute to ensuring that the outcome of the site selection process is “supported by a broad consensus in society and can thus also be tolerated by those affected” (StandAG § 5 para. 1). In order for the public to be suitably informed and involved, BASE (Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management), in particular, as the body responsible for public participation, must base its work on the knowledge, attitudes and needs of the German population. In order to gain the respective knowledge, the company aproxima Gesellschaft fur Markt- und Sozialforschung Weimar mbH was commissioned to conduct a repetitive representative survey (research project EWident). The study briefly deals with nuclear energy in general, but mainly focuses on questions related to the topic of final disposal (knowledge of the topic and especially the StandAV, interest in information and involvement, relevance of particular questions in the process, etc.). The first survey took place in summer 2020. A special focus was placed on the younger generation (14- to 29-year-olds). The results can be viewed on the BASE website (Gotte and Ludewig, 2020). They show that the level of knowledge about and interest in StandAV are still rather feeble; at the same time, it is clear that questions of safety are a central driver for accepting a possible site in one's own region. A second survey is planned for autumn 2021. A comparably broadly drawn survey has not been carried out in recent years. However, the fact that the topic of final disposal is becoming increasingly important is shown by thematically related surveys that ask about attitudes towards nuclear energy or examine particular aspects of StandAV in more detail. Within the framework of the TRANSENS research association (Transdisciplinary Research on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Germany), for example, trust and confidence in the context of the site selection process were surveyed. The 60 min workshop is aimed at interested parties and researchers who would like to contribute their own experiences with related surveys. In the workshop we provide three incentives. aproxima introduces the methods and key results of EWident's first survey. BASE gives an insight into the practical use of these results. Roman Seidl of Leibniz University Hannover reports the results of the TRANSENS survey. Subsequently, we would like to discuss the following questions, among others, with the participants in the workshop. What is remarkable about the results? Do they differ from other StandAV surveys and experiences, and if so, how? How can this be explained? What further research needs can be identified? With what approaches could they be met?