Stakeholder and public engagement in Environmental Impact Assessments: considerations and lessons for the implementation of Small Modular Reactors

Emerging nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have recently gained significant scientific, governmental, and public interest worldwide. These SMR projects require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes to identify, describe and assess the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of these facilities.
Stakeholders (e.g., industry experts, relevant governmental agencies, nuclear regulatory bodies, etc.) and the general public (e.g., individuals living near proposed SMRs locations) are expected to be involved in this EIA process at different stages, within the scope of the detailed EIA (i.e., environmental scoping report) and the EIA report finalization. These opportunities for involvement may take different forms, such as public meetings, hearings, answering questionnaires and online consultations, among others.
By discussing concerns and expectations regarding the implementation of SMRs, developing the project in accordance with both parties’ requirements, engaging the stakeholders in the decision-making, and ensuring all ethical and environmental guidelines are appropriately met, the EIA process enhances transparency and trust between parties, mitigates environmental and social concerns, manages short-and long-term risks, and promotes proactive collaboration towards a decision. However, there are persistent obstacles to effective stakeholder engagement such as: low community participation, low trust among stakeholders, use of complex technical language and dismisinformation concerning the project, among other factors.
To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the current limitations of, and opportunities for, stakeholder engagement practices within EIA processes regarding SMRs, a scoping review is conducted considering nuclear technologies. The goal is to compare practices in public engagement and communication, answering the main research question: What are the reported barriers and facilitators of stakeholder engagement in the EIA process when comparing SMRs versus large nuclear reactors?
This review is conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Protocol, to ensure a rigorous and replicable approach. Searches are carried out in the WoS Core Collection and Scopus, in English, Spanish and Portuguese, using terms relevant to the engagement process in EIAs: Environmental Impact Assessment and stakeholder engagement or public participation or consultation or communication; additional searches using synonyms are also conducted and detailed in the full review.
From the findings of this review, recommendations aimed at enhancing future stakeholder engagement in EIA processes of emerging nuclear technologies, will be presented. The proposals are intended to inform the EIA for implementation of SMRs across European Member States, while enhancing the co-decision-making process.