Firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical service responders play a critical role in protecting people and property in the event of fires, terrorist attacks and other emergencies. The authors examine the hazards that responders face and the protective technology needed.

The Catastrophe Obligation Guarantee Act, introduced in Congress in 2009, would authorize the federal government to provide committed loan guarantees to qualified state catastrophe-insurance programs. Proponents argue that lower-cost catastrophe insurance could reduce federal disaster-assistance expenditures. This report estimates the law1s potential effects in California.

Increasing the fraction of nuclear power in the mix of power-generation technologies is one approach to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. If nuclear power is to be sustainable option for the United States, methods for managing spent fuel that meet stringent safety and environmental standards must be implemented. This book evaluates four approaches and draws policy implications associated with different societal priorities and values.