WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2891/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Transportation of mixed uranium oxide in IAEA Type B flasks
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: EU financing, International Atomic Energy Agency, air transport, oxide, plutonium, radioactive materials, transport accident, transport of dangerous goods, transport safety, uranium

25. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 158/17

(98/C 158/21)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2891/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Transportation of mixed uranium oxide in IAEA Type B flasks

Can the Commission confirm that it is providing part of the funding for BNFL and other nuclear companies to
build a test facility to get Mixed Uranium Oxide and Plutonium Oxide (MOX fuel) classified as Low Dispersible
Materials in order for them to be transported in IAEA Type B flasks after 2001?

Is the Commission aware that there are serious safety issues involved in the continuing use of Type B flasks for
this purpose?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1997)

The Commission has been funding for several years study contracts in the area of safe transport of radioactive
materials. The study cited by the Honourable Member is part of the action programme undertaken in 1996. To
conduct  the  study,  British  nuclear  fuels  Ltd.  (BNFL)  has  the  lead  in  a  consortium  involving  other  European
industrial partners from Belgium, France and Germany. They received a limited financial contribution to initiate
the work on the (cid:145)Development of evaluation methods for the qualification of low dispersible material (LDM)(cid:146).
These evaluation methods will require the construction of a test facility and the performance of a number of tests
simulating air-accident conditions.

Once the evaluation methods have been established, any material including mixed oxide fuels (MOX) could be
subjected to it, in order to examine if they can be qualified as LDM.

The Commission is aware of the concerns about the continuous use of type B packages during air transport and
follows the evaluation of these concerns within the Commission(cid:146)s expert standing working group on the safe
transport of radioactive material. The same concerns are addressed by the International atomic energy agency
(IAEA), through its safety standard advisory committee, which recently recommended the establishment of a
coordinated research programme entitled (cid:145)accident severity during the air transport of radioactive material(cid:146). The
Commission is following closely the development of that programme.

(98/C 158/22)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2896/97

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Proposal for a Council regulation on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins

After having formally transmitted the above proposal (COM(97) 0247 (1) to both the Parliament and the Council,
it appears that the Commission has decided to consult the Scientific Committee for Toxicity and Eco-Toxicity of
Chemical Compounds regarding the health implications of the proposal to use a nickel alloy in the 1 and 2 euro
coins. It also appears that the Commission is financing further research in this area.

Given the fact that the Commission was aware of the health concerns expressed by both the ETUC and consumer
organizations, what was the scientific justification for its original decision?

Does  the  Commission  feel  that  its  failure  to  consult  the  scientific  committee  before  reaching  agreement  is
compatible with the new Amsterdam commitment to ensuring (cid:145)a high level of human health protection ... in the
definition ... of all Community policies and activities(cid:146)?