Civil society organizations from the US and Russia are co-hosting a US-Russian People-to-People mini-conference to explore the environmental hazards and opportunities of decommissioning nuclear power plants.

When aging nuclear reactors close, they must undergo decommissioning, a process that ideally transfers these facilities to a state that will be environmentally safe for present and future generations.

However, in both countries, this process is controlled by nuclear power plant operators and regulatory authorities and lacks legal procedures for the effective and informed participation of residents and regional legislators.

Our conference focuses on two regions that are host to decommissioning nuclear power plants as well as those seeking license extensions — New England in the USA and Northwest Russia. Our speakers share deep concerns about the environmental hazards of decommissioning and the lack of public input.

Our transnational dialogue also aims to show that, when civil society and concerned citizens work together across borders and geopolitical strife, our safety and our environment can only benefit along with the planet we all share.