WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1978/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Radioactive waste disposal in Italy
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Italy, Nuclear Energy Agency, competence of the Member States, decommissioning of power stations, nuclear power station, radioactive waste, storage of waste, underground storage of waste, waste disposal, waste management

C 31/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.2.1999

communication. Maintenance and repair of churches and historic buildings are, at least partly, taken into account
in the Commission communication. This communication is still under discussion in Council and discussion so far
has been inconclusive.

(1) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.
(2) SEC(97) 2089 final.

(1999/C 31/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1978/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Radioactive waste disposal in Italy

Further to my Written Question No 1948/97 and the answer thereto, (1) can the Commission say what progress has
been made to date as regards radioactive waste disposal in Italy, with particular reference to the Caorso nuclear
power-station in Piacenza province?

(1) OJ C 45, 10.2.1998, p. 128.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 1998)

Radioactive wastes resulting from the use of radioisotopes in medicine, industry and research are collected,
treated and stored by Nucleare-Ecologia (Nucleco) S.p.A.. At the nuclear sites, low-level radioactive waste is
treated and conditioned by the Italian national electrical energy agency (ENEL) and the European nuclear energy
agency (ENEA).

Disposal of short-lived radioactive waste in surface or near-surface repositories is planned, and a list of possible
sites has been transmitted to the ministry of Industry. Recently, a parliamentary bill has been introduced dealing
with the setting up of a new agency responsible for the description, design, construction and operation of a final
repository for low-level waste, as well as for the final decommissioning of nuclear power plants and pilot sites.

Deep disposal of long-lived waste in a clay formation is still under investigation. The option of a centralised
interim storage facility for spent reactor fuel, vitrified reprocessing waste and long-lived intermediate-level waste
is under study. The particular situation regarding the fuel stored at the Caorso reactor was covered in the
Commission(cid:146)s reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question 1948/97 (1).

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

(1) OJ C 45, 10.2.1998.

(1999/C 31/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1997/98

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Passenger listing

In view of the recent tragic ICE train disaster at Eschede, and all the doubts this casts on the safety of modern
railway technology, will the Commission now review its decision not to require the listing of passengers in the
Channel Tunnel? This decision was justified by the belief that modern technology would prevent the possibility
of any railway accident; this belief has now been cast into serious doubt.