In choosing the reference level to guide the overall remediation strategy following a nuclear accident, it must be clearly understood by the government, the regulator and the affected public that this level is a long term target (often based on equity and ethical considerations), 

whereas short term remediation targets must be realistic and economically defensible, based on sound optimization processes. The challenge is to achieve understanding among the affected public of the short term goals that are most beneficial socially. The choice of the additional dose of 1 mSv/y as a long term objective in post-accident recovery is ethically defensible on equity grounds, but will often be inappropriate for use as a short term target on grounds of feasibility and optimized social benefit.