Europe Launches Consultation On Plans For Binding Radwaste Laws
Written by NucNet
Friday, 02 April 2010
The European Commission has launched a public consultation about legislation that could see binding laws introduced to govern the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
The EC said the proposed legislation could oblige EU member states to take “the necessary decisions and define the requirements and steps” to ensure the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste by public or private organisations in their countries.
Existing EU legislation dealing with spent fuel and radioactive waste covers only a small range of the issues involved in their management, such as the supervision and control of shipments of radioactive waste and spent fuel, as well as the safety of certain storage facilities for spent fuel and radioactive waste.
The EC said the proposed legislation would respond to the concerns of European citizens in a 2008 survey, which indicated that “an overwhelming majority” of European citizens want a solution for the management of high-level waste to be developed now.
They also expect the EU to monitor national practices and programmes for managing radioactive waste in member states and to harmonise methodologies.
