Perceptions of a federal nuclear facility: Implications for environmental health communication and community outreach

Background: The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), a federal facility located in Southern Appalachian Ohio, was one of three facilities in the U.S. that enriched uranium for use in nuclear weapons and energy production. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently initiated the process of cleaning up the site to mitigate environmental health risks in the region surrounding the plant. In order to create a vision that is acceptable to the community, they are engaging residents in dialogue about the future of the site. The purpose of this study was to explore public perceptions, knowledge, and opinions related to PORTS in order to inform future communication and outreach activities with the community. Methods: Data were collected from 8 key informant interviews and 3 focus groups (N = 30) in summer 2010, followed by a representative phone sample (N = 1000) with community residents. Results: Qualitative data indicated 1) perceptions of mistrust and secrecy surrounding the plant and 2) skepticism related to the communications activities of DOE, Ohio EPA, and other groups affiliated with the site. The survey data suggested that the majority of the sample was familiar with PORTS, followed news about it, yet still felt uninformed. Conclusion: Lack of information may perpetuate the perceptions of secrecy and mistrust related to the plant by key stakeholders. It will be crucial for future community outreach activities to include providing residents with information about past, current, and future activities in order to ensure productive dialogue and community engagement.