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(2004/C 84 E/0495)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0532/04

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject:   Nuclear submarines docked at Santo Stefano Island, Sardinia

US Navy nuclear submarines are docked at the base on Santo Stefano Island, in the La Maddalena archipelago, in Sardinia. Recently, an incident with potential radioactive effects was recorded. In Sardinia and Corsica, several movements have been alerting the authorities to the potential danger of nuclear pollution in the area.

Has the Italian Government informed the European Commission about the presence of nuclear submarines at Santo Stefano Island, as required by Article 37 of the Euratom Directive on Crossborder Effects? If not, what measures will the Commission take?

Does the Commission consider that Santo Stefano Island fulfils all the conditions required for the accommodation of nuclear submarines?

Under Directive 89/618/Euratom (1), Member States are required to ensure that the population likely to be affected in the event of a radiological emergency is given information about the health-protection measures applicable to it and about the action it should take in the event of such an emergency. Can the Commission indicate where this obligation is being fulfilled by the Member State involved?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

The Commission has received no information from the Italian government on the presence of nuclear submarines at Santo Stefano Island.

Under Article 3 7 of the Euratom Treaty, each Member State must inform the Commission of any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste which could result in the radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.

Discharges under normal conditions due to the operation of the propulsion reactor of the miliary nuclear submarine in question are the responsibility of the United States which is the State responsible for the authorisation and operation of the submarine and its components, but is not subject to the provisions in Article 37.

As regards emergency measures within the meaning of Council Directive 89/618/Euratom of 27 November 1989 on informing the general public about health protection measures to be applied and steps to be taken in the event of a radiological emergency, the Commission takes the view that the Directive applies equally to ionising radiation arising from the use of nuclear energy for miliary purposes, including submarine propulsion reactors.

Italy has adopted measures transposing the abovementioned Directive which provide for ‘external emergency’ plans for military port installations, the implementation and diffusion of which is the responsibility of the provincial authority.

The Commission is currently assessing the conformity of the national legislation with the provisions in Directive 89/618/Euratom, particularly with regard to public access to information on emergency measures.

The Commission has received no complaints following the incident in question, and according to information provided by the Italian environmental protection authority (APAT), no indication of radioactive contamination was found when monitoring the water and the air following the incident described by the Honourable Member.

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(1)OJ L 357, 7.12.1989, p. 31.

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