Commission clears German plans for radioactive waste
German plans for the disposal of radioactive waste at three sites are not liable to result in significant radioactive contamination, from the point of health, or the water, soil or air of any other Member State of the European Union, according to the European Commission. In September 1998, the European Commission received data from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, relating to its plans for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from: - The dismantling of the Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant, located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; - The dismantling of the Rheinsberg Nuclear Plant, located in Brandenburg Länd; - The operation of the Interim Storage North, also located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Commission drew up its opinion on the basis of these data and clarification subsequently provided by the German Government, and following consultation with the group of experts. The distance between the plant located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the closest State border is 45km, the nearest territories of Member states being about 120km (Denmark) and 135km (Sweden). Furthermore, the distance between the plant located in Land Brandenburg and the closest State Border is 80km, the nearest territories of Member States being at about 180km (Denmark) and 250km (Sweden). Under normal operating conditions, the discharges of liquid and gaseous effluents will not cause any significant exposure of the population in other Member States from the health point of view. Concerning the radioactive waste from decommissioning and dismantling the Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant and the Rheinberg Nuclear Power Plant, the radioactive waste arising from these operations will be stored or disposed of in licensed sites in Germany. Non-radioactive solid waste or residual materials and materials, which are released under regulatory control subject to compliance with clearance levels, will be released for disposal as conventional waste or for reuse or recycling. Low and medium radioactive waste treated in the installation of the operation of the Interim Storage North located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will be stored on site. In the event of unplanned discharged 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 form the health point of view. In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plans for the disposal of radioactive waste form the three above mentioned operations, 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 form the point of view of health, or of the water, soil or air of another Member State.