This assessment examines the major technical considerations about the future of conventional nuclear power and how these technologies can affect economic, regulatory, and institutional (e.g., government, industry responsibilities) issues that govern that option. The consequences of possible changes for licensing, reactor costs, safety, industrial structure, and public perception are examined. Requested by: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources House Committee on Science and Technology INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS IN ELECTRONICS Explores the factors that determine the competitiveness of the U.S. electronics industry vis-a-vis Japanese and Western European firms, including among the factors the effects of Federal policies. Requested by: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Joint Economic Committee House Commttee on Ways and Means WATER-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN U.S. ARID/SEMIARID LANDS Will focus on the opportunities of present and emerging technologies to meet long-term sustainable agricultural water demands in arid and semiarid U.S. lands. A Background Paper of this Assessment was published in May 1983. Water-Related Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture in Arid/Semiarid Lands: Selected Foreign Experience (Background Paper) (May 1983) Highlights a few examples of water-related technologies that have been successfully applied in arid and semiarid foreign countries in a manner not being applied in the U.S.: integrated irrigation management in Pakistan, intensive water use planning in Israel, cooperative plant breeding in Senegal, native game ranching in Kenya, and guayule production in Australia. Requested by: House Committee on Agriculture 37 TECHNOLOGIES TO SUSTAIN TROPICAL FOREST RESOURCES Will investigate technologies that can be used in the tropical regions of the U.S. and in those nations supported by U.S. development assistance to sustain a broad range of forest resources. Two Background Papers of this assessment were published in May 1983. Sustaining Tropical Forest Resources: U.S. and International Institutions (Background Paper) (May 1983) Describes the state-of-the-art in use of forestry technologies to restore the productivity of tropical lands that have been degraded because of human activity. (Requester: Same as for full assessment.) - Sustaining Tropical Forest Resources: Reforestation of Degraded Lands (Background Paper) (May 1983) Describes government, academic, and private sector institutions in the United States that are developing or implementing technologies to sustain tropical forest resources. (Requester: Same as for full assessment.) Requested by: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (endorsement) House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (endorsement) COMMERCIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL ANALYSIS "Biotechnology" refers to the use of biological techniques such as recombinant DNA technology, cell fusion, and bioprocessing technology to produce chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or other substances, to improve the quality of life or to improve the characteristics of economically important plants and animals. The assessment evaluates the evolving competitive position of the U.S. with other nations. Requested by: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources (endorsement) MANAGING HIGH-LEVEL COMMERCIAL RADIOACTIVE WASTE (Summary published; Full Analyzes the techniques and procedures for the safe disposal of commercial high-level radioactive waste and evaluates a range of disposal strategies. Requested by: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources House Committee on Foreign Affairs House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries House Committee on Science and Technology 38 ACID RAIN AND TRANSPORTED AIR POLLUTANTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY Develops a range of impact scenarios of the social, economic, and environmental consequences of atmospheric changes caused by long-range transport of air pollutants, e.g., acid rain, and photochemical oxidants. Requested by: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works House Committee on Energy and Commerce MARITIME TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY A number of significant changes in Federal maritime policy have been recently proposed or implemented in an effort to reduce subsidies, eliminate unnecessary regulation, and provide a more competitive and productive economic environment. While these goals are broadly supported, it is not clear which methods will be most effective for achieving them, and, at the same time, maintaining an adequate industrial base. This study will analyze the status of the U.S. technology in shipping and shipbuilding and compare trends in maritime trade with national and international maritime policies. Requested by: House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries House Committee on Ways and Means U.S. PASSENGER RAIL TECHNOLOGIES The announcement by the newly formed, privately chartered American High Speed Rail Corp. of its planned $2 billion high-speed passenger rail corridor between Los Angeles and San Diego stimulated existing Congressional interest in the introduction of high-speed and other advanced rail technologies, including Magnetic Levitation, in the United States. This interest is also reflected in the growing number of private and publicly funded feasibility studies of these technologies in selected regions and transportation corridors. OTA assessed these intercity passenger rail technologies and the potential impacts of their introduction in the United States. Requested by: House Committee on Appropriations House Committee on Energy and Commerce Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Will evaluate the effects of technological activities on wetlands; options for mitigating undesirable impacts; the functional values of different types of wetlands; benefit/cost of technological activities in wetlands against the functional values of the wetlands that may be lost; and various approaches to wetlands use. Requested by: Assessments in Progress as of September 30, 1983 Effects of Technology on the American Economic Transition. Strategic Responses to an Extended Oil Disruption.... Potential U.S. Natural Gas Availability.......... Strategic Command, Control, Communications, and International Cooperation and Competition in Civilian Space Activities........... Technology Transfer to the Middle East... Technology, Public Policy, and the Changing Structure of American Agriculture.......... Evaluation of Agent Orange Protocol.... Health and Safety Control Technologies in the Workplace.. Medical Technology and Costs of the Medicare Program.. 49 Additional Assessments in Progress as of December 1, 1983 Approved by OTA ́s Technology Assessment Board on October 27, 1983 |