WRITTEN QUESTION E-1283/97 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (11 April 1997)

Subject: Search for permanent nuclear waste storage site in eastern Belgium and Lorraine

For several years Belgium has been searching for a suitable site for the permanent storage of nuclear waste, apparently for waste with low radioactivity. The first choice of site near Amel (eastern Belgium) was shelved following strong transfrontier protests by the local inhabitants. Press reports now indicate that Bovigny could be the new site. It has also emerged ('Die Rheinpfalz', 4 March 1997) that plans are afoot to set up a permanent site in Lorraine - in this case, for highly radioactive waste - and a budget assessment procedure has already been initiated in this connection.

Will the Commission say:

1. what information it has about the search for nuclear waste sites in the neighbouring countries of Belgium and France?

2. what substances and what quantities of these substances are due to be stored on a permanent basis in the earmarked sites in Belgium and France, respectively?

3. what standards are applied by the Belgian and French authorities in respect of the site requirements and the technical installations of a permanent nuclear waste site, and how it assesses these?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (27 May 1997)

1. Belgium plans to dispose of long-lived and heat-generating waste in a clay-layer at 200 metres depth below the Mol nuclear site. The HADES underground research facility at the site is being used to study the suitability of the geological formation. For short-lived waste, the option of disposal on the surface is envisaged. 98 sites at 47 municipalities had been identified, but all municipalities were opposed to the possible construction of a repository. The Belgian radioactive waste management agency is now examining additional sites, which may be suitable for long-term storage.

France operates a disposal facility, the centre de l'Aube for short-lived radioactive waste. For long-lived and heat-generating waste, a siting procedure has been established in line with the nuclear waste law of December 1991, which identified four suitable sites for underground disposal located in the regions Gard, Haute Meuse, Meuse and Vienne. At three of these sites, underground laboratories are planned to investigate the suitability of the geological formations. Planning applications for the construction of these non-nuclear installations were submitted to the authorities in 1996. Public hearings will be part of the licensing process. In 2006, the radioactive waste management agency is expected to report on the suitability of the sites.

2. The estimation of the capacity of a particular installation to dispose of material is a matter of national policy.

3. The Commission is well informed, through its standing committees, about site selection procedures in Belgium and France. Furthermore, as soon as firm plans are made, the provisions of the Euratom Treaty, in particular Articles 37, and of the directives on radiation protection (96/29/Euratom ((OJ L 159, 29.6.1996. ))), control of shipment (92/3/Euratom ((OJ L 35, 12.2.1992. ))) and environmental impact assessment (85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. ))) apply.