WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2313/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. New deal for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield
Date: 1997-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: United Kingdom, application of EU law, ionising radiation, nuclear fuel, occupational health, public health, storage of waste, transport of dangerous goods, transport safety, waste management

25. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 60/125

A very similar procedure has been followed for the notes. The EMI Council presented the winning series of
designs at the Dublin European Council in December 1996. However, certain technical specifications and the
design of the map of Europe have been adjusted and the final form was accepted by the EMI Council in May
1997.

(98/C 60/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2313/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(3 July 1997)

Subject: New deal for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield

The June 4 1997 issue of the (cid:145)Sellafield Newsletter(cid:146), published by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL), states that
the company has signed a new deal for reprocessing the (cid:145)remaining uncontracted spent (nuclear) fuel(cid:146) from the
five  Advanced  Gas-cooled  Reactors  (AGRs)  run  by  Nuclear  Electric  Ltd.  BNFL  predicts  that  the  deal  could
involve up to 3000 tonnes of spent fuel being sent to Sellafield and that the company would then decide whether
to reprocess it in the Thorp plant or to store it.

Has the Commission been notified of this deal by the British authorities? If so, what other details have the British
authorities provided the Commission with? In particular, what provisions will be made for safety in the transport
of the fuel to Sellafield and in its storage on site?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 1997)

The deal mentioned by the Honourable Member is of a commercial nature. Therefore, no specific notification
had to be made to the Commission.

The  safe  transport  of  spent  fuel  is  assured  by  transport  companies  in  Europe  according  to  the  provisions
established  by  the  International  atomic  energy  agency  (IAEA)  and  included  in  international  transport
conventions. Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 (1) on the transport of dangerous goods by road
and Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 (2) on the transport of dangerous goods by rail, implemented and
enforced under the responsibility of the national authorities, apply to the national and intra-Community transport
of spent fuel.

All practices which involve a risk from ionising radiation, including the storage and transport of spent fuel, have
also to comply with the basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public.
The  most  recent  revision  of  the  basic  safety  standards  is  contained  in  Directive  96/29/Euratom  of  13  May
1996 (3). National authorities are responsible for the implementation of these standards.

(1)  OJ L 319,12.12.1994 and OJ L 275, 28.10.1996.
(2)  OJ L 235, of 17.9.1996.
(3)  OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.

(98/C 60/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2314/97

by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission

(3 July 1997)

Subject: EU subsidies for cattle exports to the Middle East

Would the Commission give details of any subsidies for cattle exports to the Middle East, including the country
of origin of the cattle and the amount of subsidy paid?