An environmental policy failure: Nuclear energy's threat to marine ecology. Evaluation of United States thermal pollution policy and its application to Korean coastal governance

Thermal pollution is an important environmental problem that has not received adequate attention, particularly in relation to the thermal effects of nuclear power plants on marine ecology. This issue is especially relevant to Korea because the nation is heavily dependent upon nuclear energy produced by facilities that create thermal pollution in coastal waters. Korea has not yet adopted a governmental policy to mitigate the environmental effects of thermal pollution, and it is at a point where increased reliance on nuclear power makes the development of such a policy critical. In considering policy options, the experience of the United States with thermal pollution regulation offers Korea an opportunity to assess and learn from the American case. It can identify factors that may foster or constrain the design and implementation of successful thermal pollution regulation in Korea.; Within this framework, this analysis of the U.S. experience focuses on the formulation and implementation of thermal pollution regulation related primarily to coastal nuclear facilities. It assesses the effectiveness of this policy in terms of mitigating negative marine externalities. This study evaluates the policy outcome of thermal pollution regulation by analyzing the degree of enforcement and compliance and by exploring the outcome of court decisions.; This study fully recognizes and notes that there are substantial differences between the Korean and American political economies and the dynamics and processes of making and carrying out policy, particularly in the case of the nuclear power industry's role and status. At the same time, an examination of how marine-related thermal pollution regulations were formulated as well as assessment of the extent to which thermal pollution has been effectively mitigated in the United States can provide valuable lessons for Korea. These lessons can help Korea adopt its own thermal pollution policies to reduce the negative effects of nuclear facilities. The final intent of this study is to propose a thermal pollution policy that draws upon an analysis of the role and status of nuclear power generation in Korea. It examines the past and current status of government policies that deal with marine-related thermal pollution from such plants and considers relevant aspects of the American experience to accomplish this task.