COMMISSION OPINION of 7 March 1994 concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Melox nuclear fuel fabrication plant at the Marcoule nuclear establishment (France) in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty (Only the French text is authentic) (94/174/Euratom)

On 10 September 1993 the Commission of the European Communities received, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the General Data concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the operation of the Melox plant at Marcoule.

On the basis of the data thus obtained and having consulted the Group of Experts referred to in Article 37, the Commission drew up the following opinion:

1. The distance from the installation to the closest point on the territory of another Member State, Italy, is 180 kilometres; Spain and Germany are at a distance of 230 and 435 kilometres respectively.

2. Solid waste resulting from the operation of the Melox plant will be stored in an appropriate nuclear facility on French territory.

3. Under normal operating conditions, the gaseous and liquid effluent discharges will give rise to negligible exposure of the population of other Member States from the point of view of health.

4. In the case of an unplanned discharge of radioactive effluents which could be occasioned by an accident of the magnitude considered in the General Data, doses liable to be received in other Member States would not be significant from the point of view of health.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the operation of the Melox plant is not liable, either in normal operation or in the case of an accident of the magnitude considered, to result in the radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

For the Commission

Yannis PALEOKRASSAS Member of the Commission