WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3167/96 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. Storage of nuclear materials at Dounreay
Date: 1996-11-14
Institutions: BLOCH VON BLOTTNITZ, European Parliament
Subjects: EAEC Treaty, United Kingdom, nuclear safety, public health, radioactive waste, report, underground storage of waste













EUR-Lex - 91996E3167 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E3167

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3167/96 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ to the Commission. Storage of nuclear materials at Dounreay  


Official Journal C 083 , 14/03/1997 P. 0124 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-3167/96 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission (14 November 1996)Subject: Storage of nuclear materials at DounreayIn 1992 the Commission issued a warning to the operators of the Dounreay nuclear plant after ascertaining that a number of serious breaches of the Euratom Treaty had been committed. Recently further information has been published concerning dubious storage facilities for unstable radioactive waste, with particular reference to a shaft in the precincts of the Dounreay nuclear plant. This information had been classified as secret by the plant operators.1. Can the Commission supply any information about the materials stored in the Dounreay shaft?a) If so:- exactly what materials are involved?- when were they deposited there?- was their storage recorded in the Dounreay plant's accounting system?- do these storage facilities comply with the applicable safety requirements?- is the Commission considering taking legal action against the operators?b) If not:- what is the Commission's opinion of this method of storing extremely dangerous radioactive materials, with particular reference to the provisions of Article 37 of the EAEC Treaty (concerning the potential contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State) and compliance with basic Euratom standards?2. How often, when and with what results have Euratom inspectors inspected the Dounreay nuclear plant and, in particular, its facilities for storing nuclear materials?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1996)1. a) Less than 3000 m3 of mainly intermediate-level waste are stored at the Dounreay shaft facility. Detailed information on waste streams, quantities and radionuclide inventories is publicly available ((Report DOE/RAS/96.001, UK Nirex Report no 695 of May 1996. )). It is United Kingdom policy to remove waste from the shaft and to decontaminate the facility. Conditioning of retrieved waste should be performed to highest industrial standards and in accordance with radiation protection safety standards.1. b) The operation of the Dounreay waste disposal shaft was terminated prior to the United Kingdom joining the Community and Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty is not applied retrospectively. However, the Community basic safety standard for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionizing radiation are applicable.2. In 1995, the Commission safeguards inspection effort invested in the Dounreay site was 619 man/days. Except for the issues covered by the sanctions mentioned in this question and which were resolved subsequently, there were no anomalies detected with regard to safeguards at the Dounreay site.