WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1948/97 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Disposal of radioactive waste in Italy
Date: 1997-06-04
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Italy, competence of the Member States, decommissioning of power stations, fuel reprocessing, national law, nuclear fuel, nuclear reactor, radioactive waste, waste disposal

C 45/128

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 1997)

As provided by Article 126 of the EC Treaty, Member States have the exclusive responsibility for the content of
teaching and for the organisation of educational systems. Church-aided schools or other private schools exist in
various  Member  States.  Their  funding  and  the  modalities  of  access  to  these  schools  are  provided  by  the
authorities according to national provisions and legislation. The Commission does not have any competence in
this area.

(98/C 45/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/97

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(4 June 1997)

Subject: Disposal of radioactive waste in Italy

The  Italian  press  has  reported  on  a  nuclear  dump  in  the  province  of  Piacenza  (at  Caorso),  a  mountain  of
dangerous waste, which no-one seems to know how to eliminate. This is the only Italian reactor that has been
shut down since the 1986 referendum.

The reactor, which at that time was valued at LIT 900 billion is now costing the Italian State LIT 800 million a
day.

Is the Commission aware that, although it was decided as early as 1977 to dismantle the plant within six months
and to find a site to store the radioactive material, as yet › 20 years later › nothing has been done?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 1997)

As  a  consequence  of  the  November  1987  referendum  the  Italian  government  decided  to  discontinue  nuclear
power production at the operational plants at Latina, Trino and Caorso.

At the Caorso boiling water reactor there are still 400 irradiated and 160 new fuel elements in the reactor core,
and  632  spent  fuel  elements  are  located  in  the  storage  pool.  Technically,  this  reactor  is  consequently  in  the
situation of a reactor shut-down for maintenance, and all safety related devices have to be in working condition.

Before envisaging any dismantling of radioactive components, all spent fuel has to be removed first. The Italian
authorities have a service agreement for reprocessing of 286 fuel elements at Sellafield (United Kingdom).

Reprocessing of the remaining fuel is an option, but long-term storage of the fuel is also a possibility. An interim
storage facility for 50 to 70 years, which will receive vitrified waste from reprocessing, cemented long-lived
radioactive waste, and possibly unprocessed spent fuel, is at present under study.

The selection of options and timing for dismantling of installations for storage and for disposal of radioactive
waste is a matter of national policy.

(98/C 45/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1950/97

by Marco Cellai (NI), Cristiana Muscardini (NI)
and Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(4 June 1997)

Subject: Composting plant at Castiglione del Lago

The  municipalities  of  Castiglione  del  Lago,  Paciano,  Panicale,  Chiusi  and  Citta‘ delle  Pieve,  in  the  Lake
Trasimene district › an area of considerable importance from the archeological, environmental, agricultural and