WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3672/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Castor nuclear waste shipment from Hamburg, Germany, to Sellafield, Britain
Date: 1997-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: Germany, United Kingdom, container, nuclear power station, radioactive waste, transport of dangerous goods, waste management, waste recycling













EUR-Lex - 91997E3672 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91997E3672

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3672/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Castor nuclear waste shipment from Hamburg, Germany, to Sellafield, Britain  


Official Journal C 223 , 17/07/1998 P. 0011 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3672/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (19 November 1997)Subject: Castor nuclear waste shipment from Hamburg, Germany, to Sellafield, BritainA Castor nuclear waste shipment is due to leave the Krummel nuclear site in Hamburg, Germany, within the coming week. The waste is destined for reprocessing at the British nuclear complex, Sellafield.Krummel is reported not to have adequate storage space for its 150 spent fuel rods and therefore its operators wish for them to be reprocessed.Has the Commission been supplied with details of this waste shipment? Has it assessed the safety aspects of the shipment? Is it satisfied that the waste will be transported in suitable containers? What action does it propose to take about this shipment?Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (30 January 1998)The irradiated nuclear fuel shipped from the Krümmel nuclear power plant to Sellafield (United Kingdom) will be submitted for reprocessing. The shipments resulted from long-standing contracts with Sellafield in order to recover the recycling products.The practice of the transport of radioactive material is subject to the European basic safety standards directives 96/29/Euratom and 80/836/Euratom laying down radiation protection requirements ((OJ L 159, 29.6.1996, OJ L 246, 17.9.1980. )). The shipments by land take into account these requirements by the Community legislation on the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail (Council Directives 94/55/EC and 96/49/EC) ((OJ L 319, 12.12.1994 and OJ L 235, 17.9.1996. )). Sea transport is regulated by the IMDG Code ((International maritime dangerous goods code-class 7 (radioactive material). )) of the International maritime organisation (IMO). Both sets of regulations are based on the advisory regulations of the International atomic energy agency - Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material ((Safety Series No 6 - 1985 Edition (as amended 1990). )). Furthermore, ships which carry the packages of irradiated nuclear fuel satisfy the INF code ((INF-Code: 'Code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes in flasks on-board ships', adopted by IMO-Resolution A.748(18). )) adopted by IMO.It is up to the consignor to submit the package and shipment certificates, in conformity with the above-mentioned regulations, to the authorities of the Member States involved for approval.Through the above mentioned Directives implemented by Member States legislation, a good level of safety is ensured and no further action is presently proposed.