COMMISSION OPINION

of 16 April 2021

relating to the plan for the predisposal management of radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Maišiagala radioactive waste storage facility, located in Lithuania

(Only the Lithuanian text is authentic)

(2021/C 136/01)

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 17 September 2020 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 predisposal management of radioactive waste (2) arising from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Maišiagala radioactive waste storage facility.

On the basis of these data and additional information requested by the Commission on 18 December 2020 and on 29 January 2021 and provided by the Lithuanian authorities on 14 January 2021 and on 1 February 2021, 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 Republic of Poland, is 125 km. The Republic of Latvia is the next nearest Member State at a distance of 130 km. The border of the Republic of Belarus, as a neighbouring country, is at a distance of 50 km.

2. During normal decommissioning and dismantling operations, the discharges of gaseous radioactive effluents are not liable to cause an exposure of the population of another Member State or 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 (Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom) (3).

3. Normal dismantling operations will not lead to discharges of liquid radioactive effluents.

4. Solid radioactive waste, both dismantling and operational waste, will temporarily be stored on site before shipment to the Ignalina NPP site in Lithuania for further handling, treatment and storage. Non-radioactive solid waste and residual materials will be released from regulatory control for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling in compliance with the clearance criteria laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive (Directive 2013/59/Euratom).

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 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 2013/59/Euratom).

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the predisposal management of radioactive waste in whatever form, arising from the decommissioning and dismantling of the Maišiagala radioactive waste storage facility in Lithuania, in normal operation as well as 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 2013/59/Euratom).

Done at Brussels, 16 April 2021. For the Commission Kadri SIMSON 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 (OJ L 13, 17.1.2014, p. 1).