title: Current significant challenges in the decommissioning and environmental remediation of radioactive facilities: A perspective from outside the nuclear industry.
abstract: This paper presents the results of implementing an extrajudicial environmental mediation procedure in the socioenvironmental conflict associated with routine operation of the El Cabril Disposal Facility for low- and medium- activity radioactive waste (Spain). We analyse the socio-ethical perspective of this facility's operation with regard to its nearby residents, detailing the structure and development of the environmental mediation procedure through the participation of society and interested parties who are or may become involved in such a conflict. The research, action, and participation method was used to apply the environmental mediation procedure. This experience provides lessons that could help improve decision-making processes in nuclear or radioactive facility decommissioning projects or in environmental remediation projects dealing with ageing facilities or with those in which nuclear or radioactive accidents/incidents may have occurred.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Enresa at Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Cátedra de Medio Ambiente-Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Paraninfo, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: victoria.gil@uco.es.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gil-Cerezo
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Enresa at Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Cátedra de Medio Ambiente-Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Paraninfo, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Vilches
authors.affiliation: Cátedra Enresa at Universidad de Córdoba, Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Cátedra de Medio Ambiente-Universidad de Córdoba, Edificio Paraninfo, Universidad de Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: González-Barrios
mesh_terms: D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007221:Industry; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011851:Radioactivity; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D011850:Radioactive Waste
keywords: Environmental mediation; Nuclear facility; Public participation; Radioactive waste; Socioenvironmental conflict