WRITTEN QUESTION E-2614/96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (14 October 1996)

Subject: La Hague reprocessing plant - monitoring by the Commission

In its answer to Written Questions E-0565/96 and E-0566/96 ((OJ C 217, 26.7.1996, p. 72. )) the Commission discusses the risks inherent in the storage and reprocessing of radioactive materials at the La Hague reprocessing plant. A decision on the adequacy of the monitoring equipment installed at this plant 'can only be made once it has been thoroughly examined', according to the Commission's answer. It continues: 'Under Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission has included La Hague in its programme of checks, and it plans to carry out such a check in 1996.'

1. When was the check to which the Commission refers carried out? If it has not yet been made, when will it be carried out?

2. What equipment is to be checked, and precisely who will be making these checks?

3. Will the Commission be making the data collected available to the European Parliament? If so, when; if not, why not?

In its answer to the questions referred to above the Commission reveals a discrepancy between information contained in press reports on the level of iodine 129 contamination and data provided by the French Government. Measurements by an independent laboratory have not, however, been disclosed to the Commission.

4. Will the Commission now be verifying the data by collecting its own data during its checks?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1996)

1. In accordance with Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission carried out its check of the La Hague reprocessing plant in France from 22 to 26 July 1996.

2. The installations which were the object of this check are primarily those which have a direct impact on the environmental radioactivity level, in particular the installations close to the irradiated fuel reprocessing plant run by the Compagnie générale des matières nucléaires (Cogema) and the Manche Centre for the storage of radioactive waste (CSM), run by the National Agency for the Management of Radioactive Waste (Andra). The equipment for monitoring gaseous and liquid effluents from these establishments was also checked as part of the assessment of their impact on the environment.

3. At the present time, the technical report on these checks has not yet been finalized. This report is a working document.

It has been agreed with the Member States that, once the technical report has been finalized, the main comments formulated by the Commission may be forwarded on request to the other Member States concerned and to Parliament. Any other observations on the part of the national authorities will be forwarded also.

In addition, the Commission undertakes to inform the Council and the Parliament generally and periodically of the progress made with its programme of checks. A communication of this type is planned for 1997.

4. The Commission had already obtained from the French authorities all the data available concerning iodine 129 rates, particularly in grass and milk in the region. In the meantime, the Commission also obtained the report drawn up by a research centre which had carried out an independent survey of measurements. It should be noted that the independent measurements did not concern the same types of sample and that it is not possible, therefore, to compare the results. The conclusion put forward in the reply by the Commission to written questions E-565/96 and E-566/96 by Mrs Plooij-Van Gorsel ((OJ C 217, 26.7.1996. )) regarding the health implications of these data remains valid.

It is obvious that the Commission paid particular attention during its checks to the equipment for measuring iodine 129, which will enable it to give an opinion regarding the efficiency of such equipment.