Commission Opinion

of 10 November 2009

relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from a modification at the site of the Obrigheim KWO Nuclear Power Station, located in Germany, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty

(Only the German text is authentic)

2009/C 275/01

On 28 May 2009, the European Commission received from the German Government, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, General Data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste arising from a modification at the site of the Obrigheim KWO Nuclear Power Station.

On the basis of these data, the Commission has considered that the plan concerned a modification to an existing plan on which an opinion had already been given on 21 June 2007. The Commission has further taken into consideration that the intermediate storage facility for irradiated fuel resulting from this modification is designed to operate up to 40 years and could remain in operation after decommissioning and dismantling of the existing power station. Following consultation with the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

1. The planned modification does not require adjustment of the existing authorised discharge limits for gaseous and liquid discharges.

2. The planned modification has no consequences in relation to solid radioactive waste arising from the decommissioning of the power station.

3. The planned modification has no consequences in relation to unplanned discharges of radioactive effluents which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the General Data of the existing plan.

In conclusion, the Commission is of the opinion that the implementation of the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from a modification at the site of the Obrigheim KWO Nuclear Power Station, located in the Federal Republic of Germany, both in normal operation and in the event of an accident of the magnitude considered in the General Data, is not liable to result in radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State.

--------------------------------------------------