WRITTEN QUESTION No. 486/99 by Wilfried TELKÄMPER Recurrent reports of dangerous incidents at the nuclear power station in Fessenheim in the Alsace (Upper Rhine, France)
Date: 1999-03-05
Institutions: European Parliament, TELKAEMPER
Subjects: Alsace, environmental protection, groundwater, nuclear power station, nuclear reactor, nuclear safety, public health, radioactive effluent, radioactive pollution, water pollution













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91999E0486

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 486/99 by Wilfried TELKÄMPER Recurrent reports of dangerous incidents at the nuclear power station in Fessenheim in the Alsace (Upper Rhine, France)  


Official Journal C 348 , 03/12/1999 P. 0081 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0486/99by Wilfried Telkämper (V) to the Commission(5 March 1999)Subject: Recurrent reports of dangerous incidents at the nuclear power station in Fessenheim in the Alsace (Upper Rhine, France)After the shut-down of the two reactors at the nuclear power station in Fessenheim in the Alsace in August 1998 and on 11 December 1998, various organisations and media sources have once again reported two serious developments:1. The amount of borated water found in the security systems of reactors one and two did not comply with the relevant regulations. This water is used to prevent a nuclear reaction in the event of an accident.2. Radioactive tritium had leaked into the ground water. Tritium levels of 60 Bq per litre of water were registered.What is the Commission's opinion of the nature, extent and consequences of the most recent incidents at the Fessenheim nuclear power station, particularly the pollution of ground water by radioactive tritium? Does the Commission now consider that it is necessary to set up a committee of independent experts? Does the Commission consider that it is necessary to take measures to protect the environment and public health?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission(15 April 1999)Operational aspects concerning the amount of borated water available at Fessenheim nuclear power plant are outside the scope of the responsibilities of the Commission. The overall Community competence in the nuclear safety field is laid down in the Euratom Treaty and covers mainly radiological protection. The French safety authorities are responsible for the licensing of nuclear power installations and the respect of safety practices in France.The Commission has not yet received official information with regard to leakage of tritium into the environment. The activity concentration of 60 becquerel per litre (Bq/l) is below the indicator parameter value laid down in Annex I part C of Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption(1). The protracted intake of drinking water at this level of tritium activity would cause a radiation exposure of about 0.1 % of the annual limit for members of the public established in Council Directive 96/26/Euratom laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation(2). Hence there is no need for the Commission to take further action.(1) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.(2) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.