Commission Opinion of 16 June 2023 relating to the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of the Brennilis (B-NPS) nuclear power station in the Finistère Department, France(Only the French text is authentic) 2023/C 218/01
Date: 2023-06-16
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: Brittany, France, Ireland, decommissioning of power stations, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, public health, radioactive pollution, radioactive waste, waste disposal








C_2023218EN.01000101.xml










21.6.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 218/1






COMMISSION OPINION
of 16 June 2023
relating to the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of the Brennilis (B-NPS) nuclear power station in the Finistère Department, France(Only the French text is authentic)
(2023/C 218/01)
The assessment below is carried out under the provisions of the Euratom Treaty, without prejudice to any additional assessments to be carried out under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the obligations stemming from it and from secondary legislation (1).
On 22 June 2022, the European Commission received from the Government of France, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the General Data relating to the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste (2) arising from the dismantling of the Brennilis nuclear power station.
On the basis of these data and additional information requested by the Commission on 19 October 2022 and provided by the French authorities on 9 February 2023, and following consultation with the Group of Experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:






1.


The distance from the site to the nearest border of another Member State, in this case Ireland, is 468 km.










2.


The modified plan involves an increase of the authorised discharge limits for airborne radioactive effluents. No liquid radioactive effluents are authorised.










3.


During normal dismantling operations, the discharge of gaseous radioactive effluents is not liable to cause an exposure of the population in another Member State that would be significant from the point of view of health, in respect of the dose limits laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive (3).










4.


In the event of unplanned releases of radioactive effluents that may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the modified plan, these releases are not liable to result in a radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State which is significant from the point of view of health, in compliance with the provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive.




In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form, arising from the dismantling of the Brennilis (B-NPS) nuclear power station, located in the Finistère Department, France, both in normal operation and in the event of the accidents of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, is not liable to result in a radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State, in respect of the provisions laid down in the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

Done at Brussels, 16 June 2023.


For the Commission

Kadri SIMSON

Member of the Commission





(1)  For instance, under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, environmental aspects should be further assessed. Indicatively, the Commission would like to draw attention to the provisions of Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU; to Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, as well as to Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and to Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.

(2)  The disposal of radioactive waste in the meaning of point 1 of Commission Recommendation 2010/635/Euratom of 11 October 2010 on the application of Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty (OJ L 279, 23.10.2010, p. 36).

(3)  Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom (OJ L 13, 17.1.2014, p. 1).