COMMISSION OPINION of 10 September 1997 concerning the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Centraco nuclear treatment and conditioning plant (France) in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty (97/C 291/04)

On 20 March 1997, the European Commission received from the French Government, in accordance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, general data relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from the operation of the Centraco nuclear treatment and conditioning plant.

On the basis of these data and after consulting the group of experts, the Commission has drawn up the following opinion:

1. The nearest point on the territory of another Member State, in this case Italy, is at a distance of 180 km, while the nearest point in Spain is 230 km from the plant.

2. The solid wastes arising from the operation of the Centraco plant are either to be recycled on site or treated in situ or ex situ. There will be no final storage of any waste on site.

3. Under normal operating conditions, the planned releases of liquid and gaseous effluents will give rise to an exposure of the population of other Member States which is not significant from the health point of view.

4. In the event of unplanned discharges of radioactive waste which may follow an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, the doses liable to be received by the population of other Member States would 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 effluents arising from the operation of the Centraco plant, 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 airspace of another Member State.