Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

G.4
Southwest region most people live in towns just large enough to qualify as urban by the U.S.
Census Bureau (2500 or more). The nearest metropolitan center (population 50,000/year or
more) is over 100 miles from any part of the Southwest region. The Midwest region, however,
contains a very large metropolitan center, though the site itself is primarily rural.
Looking briefly at the data related to employment, it is apparent that the Midwest site
residents enjoy the highest standard of living. This is true for both the county and the
region and is reflected by relatively high family income, low percent unemployed, and low
percent below the poverty level, defined for 1975 by the U.S. Census Bureau as $5500 for a
nonfarm family of four. In contrast, almost one-quarter of the Southeast site residents are
below the poverty level, and the median income for the Southeast region is less than two-
thirds that for the Midwest region. Similar regional differences are reflected in the data
presented on education. The Southeast site residents are substantially less educated than
residents from the other two sites, a condition to be expected from the more rural character
of the Southeast site.
Housing variables are critical because they reflect the ability of a community to ade-
quately accommodate a substantial population influx. Vacancy rates coupled with the condition
of housing determine the ease with which the incoming labor force can find adequate,
affordable living space. In this regard, the Southwest site is apparently best situated to
accommodate a population influx. It has a higher vacancy rate and substantially newer hous-
ing units in better condition when compared with the other two sites. In addition, a very
high proportion of the Southwest site's housing facilities are connected to a public sewer
service.
The three reference sites selected are each distinct in terms of demographic, economic,
and social service characteristics. The relative size and significance of socioeconomic
impacts that might accrue from the construction and operation of waste management facilities
will be conditioned in large part by these characteristics of the reference site.