ML19318B056

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Accepts 800513 Invitation to Speak to College Later in Summer.Part II of Previous Speech Re Ethical Issues of Energy Policy & Social,Political & Economic Effects of Choices Under Preparation
ML19318B056
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/03/1980
From: Spangler M
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To: Mattson K
GETTYSBURG COLLEGE, GETTYSBURG, PA
References
NUDOCS 8006240629
Download: ML19318B056 (2)


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Reverrend Karl-J. Hattson Office of the Chaplains Gettysburg College Gettysburg. Pennsylvania 17325

Dear Reverend Mattson:

Thank you for your letter of May 13 and for the invitation to speak to the

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students at Gettysburg College later this summer.

I would.very much like to accept this invitation. College students represent the so-called "next generation" which will be the principal benefactors or the

- sufferers, as the case ma be, of currently formulated energy policies and

~ programs affecting the amounts and kinds of. energy alternatives to be utilized and the envimnnental, social, economic, and political effects of these choices.

In the next month I will be preparing the Part II paper I referred to in my

. previous paper. This paper will explore a number of ethical issues in decision

. making regarding alternative energy choices including such matters as:

1.

cross'-sectional equity for the present generation and equity between the present and future generations; 2.

policy implications of the involuntary and catastrophic nature of various kinds'of risks;. ~

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the' problem of changestin individual and societal values over the span of time to which energy policy is directed;

4. ; criteria for establisliing 'safetyLgoals and supporting techno-

. logical standards in which tradeoffs must be rationalized between' incremental improvements in safety and tim resulting costs:and benefits of safety decisions;~and.,

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ethicallresponsibilities of decision nakers to ' inform the public.

and of the-public to be well infomed in the facf of inherent.

complexities' and irreducible uncertainties associated with pol. icy.

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4 choices.

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h Reverend Karl J. ' tiattson - In view of your expmssed interest in' ethical issues and their central role in energy policy fomulation, perhaps the above paper would be an appropriate thene-for the invited presentation..

It was pleasing to hear that my April presentation stimulated interest among

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- the Lutheran College Chaplains.

Again, my thanks for your' interest in my wod and for the invitation.to continue the exploration of ethical issues related to nuclear and alternative forsis of energy.

Sincerely, itiller B. Spangler Special Assistant for Policy Analysisu cc: liarold R. Denton Division of Safety Technology bec: Roger J. Mattson Office of flucicar P,eactor Regulation

Enclosure:

"HRC Lessons Learned from TitI.... "

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