Commission clears plan for disposal of nuclear waste from Biblis nuclear power station, Germany

Brussels, 29 November 2002

Commission opinion of November 2002 concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from modifications at the site of the Biblis Nuclear Power Station in the Federal Republic of Germany, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty (OJ C297/2 29.11.2002). Text [NB link expires 45 days from publication date]

On 28 May 2002, the European Commission received from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from modifications at the site of the Biblis Nuclear Power Station.

On the basis of these data, the Commission has considered that the plan concerned modifications to an existing plan on which an opinion had already been given. The Commission has further taken into consideration that the intermediate storage facility for irradiated fuel resulting from those modifications is designed to operate up to 40 years and could remain in operation after decommissioning and dismantling of the existing plant. Following consultation with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

(a) The planned modifications require no changes to the existing authorised limits for gaseous and liquid discharges.

(b) The planned modifications have no consequences in relation to the solid radioactive waste arising from the operation of the existing plant.

(c) The planned modifications have no consequences in relation to the unplanned discharges of radioactive substances, which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data of the existing plan.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form resulting from modifications at the site of the Biblis Nuclear Power Station, located in the Federal Republic of Germany, both in normal operation and in the event of an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, is not liable to result in radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.

Official Journal of the EC, C297/2 29.11.2002