EN Official Journal of the European Union C 34/1

COMMISSION OPINION

of 26 January 2018

relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of the AMI facility that is part of the Chinon nuclear power plant site, located in France

(Only the French text is authentic)

(2018/C 34/01)

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 23 June 2017, the European Commission received from the Government of France, 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 the AMI facility that is part of the Chinon nuclear power plant site.

On the basis of these data 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 the United Kingdom, is 384 km. Belgium is the next nearest Member State at a distance of 426 km. The distance between the site and the nearest border of a neighbouring country, in this case the Channel Islands (British Crown Dependencies) is some 300 km.

2. During normal dismantling operations, the discharges of gaseous radioactive effluents are not liable to cause an exposure of the population of another Member State or of a neighbouring 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 Directives (3).

3. During normal dismantling operations the discharge of liquid radioactive effluent is not foreseen; the French authorities will thus not deliver a discharge authorisation for this type of radioactive waste stream.

4. Solid radioactive waste, both dismantling and operational waste, will temporarily be stored on site before shipment to licensed treatment or disposal facilities located in France. The Commission recommends that the residual activity concentration checks, carried out to confirm the conventional nature of the solid waste after decontamination, be such that compliance with the clearance criteria laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directives is ensured.

5. In the event of unplanned releases of radioactive effluents that may follow the accident 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 neighbouring 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 Directives.

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 the AMI facility that is part of the Chinon nuclear power plant site in France, both in normal operation and in the event of the accident 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 of neighbouring country, in respect of the provisions laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directives.

Done at Brussels, 26 January 2018. 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 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation (OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, p. 1) and 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, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom (OJ L 13, 17.1.2014, p. 1) with effect from 6 February 2018.