COMMISSION OPINION

of 19 November 2012

relating to the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the Bugey-2 Nuclear Power Station (reactors 2, 3, 4 and 5), located in France, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(Only the French text is authentic)

2012/C 377/01

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 20 July 2012, the European Commission received from the French Government, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, General Data relating to the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from the Bugey-2 Nuclear Power Station (reactors 2, 3, 4 and 5).

On the basis of these data, and following consultation with the Group of Experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

1.

The distances between the Bugey-2 Nuclear Power Station (reactors 2, 3, 4 and 5) and the nearest border with another Member State are 117 km for Italy and 226 km for Germany.

2.

The planned modification concerns a request to obtain a general decrease of the authorised discharge limits for liquid and gaseous radioactive effluents, whilst at the same time defining additional limits for the discharges of carbon-14.

3.

During normal operating conditions, the planned modification will not cause an exposure of the population of another Member State that is significant from the point of view of health.

4.

In the event of unplanned releases of radioactive effluents which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, the planned modification is not likely to lead to doses to the population of another Member State that would be significant from the point of view of health.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the modified plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form, arising from the Bugey-2 Nuclear Power Station (reactors 2, 3, 4 and 5), located 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 air space of another Member State.

Done at Brussels, 19 November 2012.

For the Commission

Günther OETTINGER

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.