Commission Opinion

of 22 April 2002

concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Socatri decontamination and uranium recovery plant (IARU) at the Tricastin site in France, pursuant to Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(2002/C 99/03)

(only the French text is authentic)

On 23 October 2001, the European Commission received from the French Government, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Socatri decontamination and uranium recovery plant (IARU).

On the basis of these data and clarifications subsequently provided by the French Government, and following consultation with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

(a) The distance between the facility and the nearest border with another Member State (Italy) is approximately 170 km, and the closest other Member States are approximately 250 km distant (Spain) and 420 km distant (Germany).

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

(c) Solid radioactive waste from the production operations will be stored or disposed of at approved sites in France.

(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 likely to be received by the population in other Member States would not be significant from the health point of view.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form from the Socatri decontamination and uranium recovery plant (IARU) at the Tricastin site in France, 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 radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.