31987A0434

87/434/Euratom: Opinion of the Commission of 28 July 1987 concerning the Nogent-sur-Seine Nuclear Power Station (France) (Only the French text is authentic)

Official Journal L 238 , 21/08/1987 P. 0030 - 0030

*****

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

of 28 July 1987

concerning the Nogent-sur-Seine Nuclear Power Station (France)

(Only the French text is authentic)

(87/434/Euratom)

The General Data concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station (units 1 and 2) were provided by the French Government to the Commission, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, by letter received 12 March 1987.

On the occasion of the meeting of the Group of Experts set up pursuant to the Treaty, which took place on 3 June 1987, in Luxembourg, the representatives of the French Government provided further complementary information and details.

On the basis of the data thus obtained and having consulted the Group of Experts, the Commission drew up the following opinion:

1. The distance from the power stastion of Nogent-sur-Seine to the closest point on the territory of other Member States, Belgium and Luxembourg, is approximately 200 kilometres; the Federal Republic of Germany is some 270 kilometres distant.

2. In normal operation the liquid and gaseous effluent discharges of the station are not liable to give rise to significant exposure, from the health point of view, of the population of other Member States.

3. Solid radioactive wastes are to be stored only temporarily on the power station site prior to transport to a storage facility under state supervision.

Similarly, irradiated fuel elements are to be stored at the plant site prior to transfer to a reprocessing plant. Their transfer outside French territory is not foreseen.

4. In the case of an unplanned release of radioactive effluents which could be occasioned by an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data, doses liable to be received in other Member States will not be significant from the health point of view.

France has signed bilateral agreements with Luxembourg and the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the exchange of information in case of nuclear incidents or accidents; a similar agreement is being worked out with Belgium. These agreements allow for hypothetical accidents having radiological consequences more important than those presented in the General Data to be taken into account.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station is not liable, either in normal operation or in the case of an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data to result in the radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.

This opinion is addressed to the French Republic.

Done at Brussels, 28 July 1987.

For the Commission

Stanley CLINTON DAVIS

Member of the Commission