Impact of Offshore Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract

A multiple method investigation was undertaken to project the impact of offshore nuclear power plants on beach visitation at adjacent beaches. (1) Related literature was reviewed concerning human adjustment to natural hazards, risk-taking behavior, and public attitudes toward nuclear power. (2) People were interviewed at beaches in three states with respect to: (a) intended avoidance of beaches near a hypothetical floating nuclear plant (FNP), (b) relative importance of proximity to a FNP, when compared to other beach attributes, (c) onshore-offshore preference for coastal nuclear plant location, (d) behavioral impact of the licensing of FNP's, (e) relative tourism impact of coastal nuclear plant compared to coastal coal-fired plant, (f) public concerns about nuclear safety, (g) public attitudes toward alternative energy sources, (h) public confidence in sources of information about nuclear power, (i) visual impact of a FNP, and (j) knowledge about nuclear power. (3) Four beach areas near currently operating coastal nuclear power plants were studied to assess impacts on tourism resulting from plant construction.