Radiation exposure liability : the burden of responsibility and compensation in civilian and military nuclear ventures
Author(s)
Flores, Jessica (Jessica Alejandro)
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Alternative title
Burden of responsibility and compensation in civilian and military nuclear ventures
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Advisor
Dwight L. Williams.
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Since Enrico Fermi first discovered that neutrons could split atoms in 1934, peaceful and militaristic uses of nuclear energy have become prevalent in our society. Two case studies, Three Mile Island and the Nevada Test Site, allow for the examination of radiation injury liability in the context of existing radiation compensation systems. The Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act, which governs civilian nuclear use, and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which governs compensation for military nuclear weapons tests, are compared to determine the most efficient compensation system. Issues such as determining compensable diseases, establishing rigid criteria, and a heavy burden of proof define the efficiency of each system. A compensation system combining elements of the existing civilian and military compensation systems is proposed, which can be applied to future nuclear ventures such as the Yucca Mountain Repository.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2008. "June 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53).
Date issued
2008Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and EngineeringPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Nuclear Science and Engineering.