COMMISSION OPINION

of 10 December 2015

relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the dismantling of the KWB-A and KWB-B Nuclear Power Plants, located at Biblis in the land of Hesse, Germany

(only the German text is authentic)

(2015/C 413/01)

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 27 March 2015, the European Commission received from the Government of Germany, 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 the KWB-A and KWB-B Nuclear Power Plants.

On the basis of these data and additional information requested by the Commission on 26 May 2015 and provided by the German authorities on 13 July 2015, and following consultation with the Group of Experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

1.

The distance between the site and the nearest border with another Member State, in this case France is 82 km. The Netherlands, at the entry point of the river Rhine, are at a distance of 212 km.

2.

During normal dismantling operations the discharges of liquid and gaseous radioactive effluents are 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 new Basic Safety Standards (Directive 2013/59/Euratom).

3.

Solid radioactive waste is temporarily stored on site before shipment to licensed treatment or disposal facilities located in Germany.

Non-radioactive solid waste and residual materials in compliance with clearance levels will be released from regulatory control for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling. This will be done in compliance with the criteria laid down in the new Basic Safety Standards (Directive 2013/59/Euratom).

4.

In the event of unplanned releases of radioactive effluents that may follow the accidents of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, the doses likely to be received by the population of another Member State would not be significant from the point of view of health, in respect of the reference levels laid down in the new Basic Safety Standards (Directive 2013/59/Euratom).

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 the Biblis KWB-A and KWB-B nuclear power plants located in the land of Hesse, Germany, 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 new Basic Safety Standards (Directive 2013/59/Euratom).

Done at Brussels, 10 December 2015.

For the Commission

Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE

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, 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 Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.