Commission opinion

of 22 June 2000

concerning the plan for the decommissioning and deferment period of the Dodewaard Nuclear Power Plant located in the Netherlands in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(2000/C 186/03)

(Only the Dutch text is authentic)

On 8 November 1999, the European Commission received from the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the decommissioning of the Dodewaard Nuclear Power Plant.

On the basis of these data and clarifications subsequently provided by the Permanent Representation of the Netherlands, and following consultation with the group of experts, the Commissison has drawn up the following opinion.

(a) The distance between the plant and the closest Member State border (with Germany) is 25 km.

(b) Under normal operating conditions, the discharges of liquid and gaseous effluents will not cause an exposure to the population in other Member States significant from the point of view of health.

(c) Solid radioactive waste arising from the dismantling operations will be stored or disposed of in a licensed site, COVRA in the Netherlands, non-radioactive solid waste or residual materials and materials which are released from regulatory control subject to compliance with clearance levels will be released for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling, in all cases complying with the criteria laid down in the Basic Safety Standards (Directive 96/29/Euratom).

(d) In the event of unplanned discharges of radioactive waste, which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, the doses liable to be received by the population in other Member States would not be significant from the point of view of health.

(e) The general data do not cotain information with regard to the potential radioactive contamination of foodstuffs grown in the neighbourhood of the facility. The Commission recommends that relevant foodstuffs be included in the environmental monitoring programme.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the decommissioning and deferment period of the Dodewaard Nuclear Power Plant located in the Netherlands, both in normal operation and in the event of an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, is not liable to result in the radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.