Technical Meeting on Learning from the Experiences of Local Communities on Stakeholder Involvement in Radioactive Waste Management Programmes

As Member States develop their Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) programmes, engagement at the local level is a key component in enabling sustainable progress of RWM programmes. There is growing recognition that local communities have an essential role to play both in decision making processes related to RWM programmes and in programme implementation. While various benefits and the necessity of stakeholder involvement at the local level are widely recognized, implementation can still be enhanced and expanded.

Currently, the majority of reports on communication and stakeholder involvement reflect the perspective of national level stakeholders — typically, national RWM implementers, policy makers and national authorities. But there is also merit in gathering perspectives from the local level stakeholders.

The objective of this meeting is to gather and share insights and experience of local stakeholders involved in RWM programmes. Specific topics include:

• Evolution of the three top issues from the local point of view;
• Managing local dialogue over long time frames;
• Broadening the dialogue beyond interested/host communities; and
• Additional topics of interest from local communities.

Participants will also gather and share insights on experiences of local involvement associated with other nuclear fuel cycle facilities and invite suggestions for future IAEA activities that would be of value to local communities.