Commission opinion

of 20 October 2003

concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of nuclear facilities including research reactors and hot cells at Risø National Laboratories on the island of Zealand in Denmark, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(2003/C 253/08)

(Only the Danish text is authentic)

On 7 April 2003 the European Commission received from the Danish Government, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, General Data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of nuclear facilities including research reactors and hot cells at Risø National Laboratories.

On the basis of these data and additional information provided by the Danish Government on 3 July 2003, and following consultation with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

(a) The distance between the installation and the nearest border with another Member State, which is Sweden, is 63 km while Rügen in Germany is 137 km away.

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

(c) Solid radioactive waste arising from the treatment of waste will be stored in a facility on site and finally removed to future sites in Denmark. Non-radioactive solid waste and materials which are released from regulatory control subject to compliance with clearance levels will be released for disposal as conventional waste or for recycling or reuse. This will be done in compliance 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 likely to be received by the population 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 in whatever form arising from the dismantling of nuclear facilities including research reactors and hot cells at Risø National Laboratories on the island of Zealand in Denmark, 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.