31987A0427

87/427/Euratom: Opinion of the Commission of 20 July 1987 concerning the Belleville Nuclear Power Station (France) (Only the French text is authentic)

Official Journal L 228 , 15/08/1987 P. 0047 - 0047

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OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

of 20 July 1987

concerning the Belleville Nuclear Power Station (France)

(Only the French text is authentic)

(87/427/Euratom)

The General Data concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from Belleville 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 18 November 1986.

In the course of the meeting of the Group of Experts set up pursuant to the Treaty, which took place on 12 March 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 station of Belleville to the closest point on the territory of another Member State, Belgium, is approximately 285 kilometres; the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is some 310 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.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Belleville 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 Republic of France.

Done at Brussels, 20 July 1987.

For the Commission

Stanley CLINTON DAVIS

Member of the Commission