Public Survey

Mineral County Public Surveys:

Surveys: (PDF)

June 2011
June 2010
June 2009
July 2008
July 2007
July 2006
July 2005
July 2004
July 2003

Mineral County National Honor Society Students Complete the Yucca Mountain 2011 Survey

survey

Pictured - Front row: Board of Mineral County Commissioners: James A. Essenpreis, Chairman, Nancy Black, Member, and Jerrie C. Tipton, Vice Chairman.

Back row: Linda Mathias, Director of Mineral County Nuclear Waste Project and Mineral County national honor society students.

As part of its impact assessment and oversight program, Mineral County conducts an annual survey which stared in 2003 and focuses on assessing local Mineral County residence opinions about the Yucca Mountain Project and nuclear power.

National honor society students conducted the surveys will the results available at this link. Mineral-Survey-2011

Mineral County National Honor Society Students Complete the Yucca Mountain 2010 Survey

The Mineral County National Honor Society have completed the Yucca Mountain 2010 Community Survey with results that coincide with prior surveys of local county residents (see figure below).

The high school students interviewed approximately 200 respondents in order to ascertain the views and knowledge of the proposed Yucca Mountain High Level Nuclear Waste Repository 90 miles north of Las Vegas. The survey also included questions which have been the subject of national survey efforts regarding nuclear energy. On Wednesday, April 21st, 2010, 3 students from the survey group, Nicole West, Gabby Madraso and Sara Going, presented the results to the Mineral County Board of Commissioners.

The students worked under the direction of Linda Mathias, Director of the Mineral County Nuclear Projects Office and their faculty advisor, Shar Murphy. The National Honor Society student participants were: Mallory Bunch, Sheridan Sterling, Christina Janis, Sara Going, Candace Paulson, Nicole West, Sam Mayes, Chris Milks, Dalton Hearn, Foster Kenton III, Shatoya Mitchel and Gabby Madraso. A heartfelt thank you goes out to these fine students and their faculty advisor, Shar Murphy for a job well done!

Survey presenters

Student presenters are Nicole West, Gabby Madraso and Sara Going

Sample from the 2010 Survey

3.0 COMPARISON OF SURVEY RESPONSES

Section 3.0 compares the results of the 2010 Mineral County survey to national survey responses and past community surveys. The Nuclear Energy Institute conducted a number of survey efforts related to Yucca Mountain and nuclear energy use over the last several years. Among national and Mineral County survey respondents, support for nuclear power remains strong.

Questions:

Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States?

As compared to national survey results, the Mineral County 2007 survey respondents had a slightly less favorable view of nuclear energy as a source of electricity in the United States. Overall, there is an increasing favorable view of nuclear energy among national and Mineral County survey respondents for the 2008 and 2009 survey efforts. Results: Public Survey 2010:

2009 Mineral County Public Survey

Report

Mineral County High School students completed approximately 209 surveys in order to ascertain the views and knowledge of the repository program and nuclear energy. The Mineral County Community survey focused on questions and issues that have been the subject of national survey efforts related to nuclear energy and Yucca Mountain.

Once the research was completed students compiled the information and presented their findings to the Mineral County Board of County Commissioners.

How did Mineral residents respond?

Mineral honor students

High School students Devin Loughry, Brianna Paulson, and Nicole Mathias.

Click on graphic to see larger view.

Question: Are you familiar with the Yucca Mountain Project and the federal government’s efforts to store spent nuclear fuel in Nevada?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Yes	172	83.3
No	37	16.6

Question 1. Are you in favor or opposed to a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
In Favor	124	59.3
Opposed	85	40.7

Question 2. Increasing energy production requires a permanent geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. It could also reduce the Nation’s energy costs and dependence on foreign energy sources. Knowing this would you be in favor or opposed to a repository?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
In Favor	146	69.9
Opposed	63	30.1

Question 3. Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Strongly favor	67	32.1
Somewhat favor	72	34.4
Somewhat oppose	32	15.3
Strongly oppose	38	18.2

In 2008, about 74 percent of national survey respondents favored nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide energy in the United States.

Question 4. How confident are you that radioactive waste from America’s nuclear power plants will be transported safely to the Yucca Mountain disposal site. Are you very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Very confident	63	30.1
Somewhat confident	79	37.8
Not too confident	46	22.1
Not confident at all	21	10.0

Question 5. Radioactive waste is transported in rugged vault-like containers, under strict regulations, using cautious procedures, and in collaboration with state agencies. In the past 35 years, there have been more than 3,000 shipments of this radioactive waste across a total of nearly 2 million miles, and no radiation leeks. After hearing this statement, how confident are you that the radioactive waste from America’s nuclear power plants will be transported safely to the proposed Yucca Mountain disposal site?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Very confident	77	36.8
Somewhat confident	83	39.8
Not too confident	32	15.3
Not confident at all	17	8.1

Question 6. Please tell me if you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose building new nuclear power plants to reduce reliance on oil or coal.

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Stongly agree	86	41.2
Agree	55	26.3
Disagree	51	24.4
Strongly disagree	17	8.1

Question 7. Should Nevada receive a benefits package or compensation from the federal government, if the Yucca Mountain Project is built?

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Yes	202	96.7
No	7	3.3

Age of Respondent (survey respondent)

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Average age	38 yrs
Median age	35 yrs
55 years or older	39	18.8
25 to 55 years old	105	50.2
Less than 25 years	64	30.6

Question 11. Household Size

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
1 person	43	21.0
2 person	66	32.2
3 person	43	21.0
4 person	35	17.1
More than 4 persons	18	8.7

Question 12. Length of Residency in Mineral County

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Average length	22.9 yrs
Median length	20 yrs
1-10 years	68	32.5
10-20 years	70	33.5
More than 20 years	71	34.0

Question 13. Sex of Respondent

Mineral County Survey Respondent
Response	Frequency	Percent
Male	84	40.2
Female	125	59.8