COMMISSION OPINION

of 16 May 2019

relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of reactor working areas R1 and R2 of Unit 1 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant located in Lithuania

(only the Lithuanian text is authentic)

(2019/C 171/01)

The assessment below is carried out under the provisions of the Euratom Treaty, without prejudice to any additional assessments to be carried out under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the obligations stemming from it and from secondary legislation (1).

On 13 November 2018 the European Commission received from the Government of Lithuania, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, General Data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste (2) arising from the dismantling of reactor working areas R1 and R2 of Unit 1 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant.

On the basis of these data and additional information requested by the Commission on 21 December 2018 and provided by the Lithuanian authorities on 6 February 2019, and following consultation with the Group of Experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

1. The distance between the site and the nearest border with another Member State, in this case Latvia is 8 km. The next nearest Member State is Poland at a distance of about 250 km. The border of the Republic of Belarus, as neighbouring country, is at a distance of 5 km.

2. Normal dismantling operations will not lead to discharges of liquid radioactive effluents. During normal dismantling operations, the discharge of gaseous radioactive effluents are not liable to cause an exposure of the population in another Member State or in a third country that would be significant from the point of view of health, in respect of the dose limits laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive (3).

3. Solid radioactive waste will be transferred to appropriate treatment, storage or disposal facilities present on the Ignalina site. Non-radioactive solid waste and residual materials in compliance with clearance levels will be released from regulatory control for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling. This will be done in compliance with the criteria laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

4. In the event of unplanned releases of radioactive effluents that may follow the accidents of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, the doses likely to be received by the population of another Member State or a third country would not be significant from the point of view of health, in respect of the reference levels laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form, arising from the dismantling of reactor working areas R1 and R2 of unit-1 of the Ignalina power plant located in Lithuania, both in normal operation and in the event of the accidents of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, is not liable to result in a radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State or a of third country, in respect of the provisions laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

Done at Brussels, 16 May 2019. For the Commission Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE Member of the Commission

(1) For instance, under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, environmental aspects should be further assessed. Indicatively, the Commission would like to draw attention to the provisions of Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU; to Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, as well as to Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and to Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.

(2) The disposal of radioactive waste in the meaning of point 1 of Commission Recommendation 2010/635/Euratom of 11 October 2010 on the application of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty (OJ L 279, 23.10.2010, p. 36).

(3) Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation.