COMMUNITY IMPACT IN RELATION TO STIGMA

See an excerpt of how stigma from this dump may impact South Bruce. This information comes from a study commissioned for the Municipality of Kincardine in 2004 by the Ivey School of Business at University of Western Ontario to evaluate a possible negotiation strategy with OPG if the community were to host the now failed low/intermediate DGR.

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Page 19 Section 7.2.2

The cost of getting public opinion and government approvals is the key driver of compensation. In the context of nuclear waste management, compensation serves as a remedy to the community for the stigma it will suffer as a result of the facility. While there can be an argument that stigma does not exist, if this were true then communities all over Ontario would have no qualms about accepting the facility into their boundaries. The fact is, there is a social stigma against nuclear waste, and with social stigma comes damages. 

"Restitutio in Integrum- restoration to the original position"

Page 20, same section

In evaluating a compensation scheme, it is important to note that before a disposal facility is ever built, residents can begin experiencing losses immediately (mostly market value of property). The delay between the signing of a deal and the time nuclear waste arrives may see a decrease in property market value. This decrease may be unfair to residents in the surrounding communities.

Page 21, section 7.2.3 

As a motivator for action, the incentive is generally a tool used to garner support. In the context of the Low Level Waste (LLW) issue, an incentive is a 'reward' for accepting the social burden of the waste, or the cost of educating the population (general public as well as political lobbying) in an attempt to re-position the waste as a non-liability. 

With respect to the deal, OPG believes the value of increased employment and indirect business growth should be incentive enough for this deal to exist. This may or may not be true, but if communities in general disagree with this assessment, then the cost to OPG to educate and lobby will increase, thereby increasing the incentive component anyways.

One drawback with the incentive system is that there will always be individuals against any incentive no matter what the amount. "Individuals who perceive these facilities as dangerous will not change these perceptions when offered money. They will view the offer itself as immoral. Health, like love or salvation, does not belong in the marketplace; to buy or sell any of these is a travesty."

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