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EU’s radioactive waste plan not likely to be successful

Greenpeace has voiced strong criticism of the proposals and claimed the European Commission has ignored key questions such as the rock behaviour, human interference among other factors. “The European Commission is pushing for deep geological disposal against a lot of problems that need to be resolved,”

EU Nuclear Waste: Commission To Propose Controversial Measure Of Burying Nuclear Waste In EuropeSource: eGov monitor –   27 October, 2010 – The European Commission is all set to propose deep underground storage of radioactive nuclear fuel waste, according to a leaked document.The measures have drawn criticisms from the environmental groups especially the anti-nuclear campaigners although businesses and the nuclear energy industry has backed the proposals.
According to the draft document, “deep geological disposal represents the safest and most sustainable option as the end point of the management of high level waste and spent fuel considered as waste”. The Commission argues that most member states have yet to draw up plans to deal with radioactive waste even though many EU countries have operating nuclear power plants.

The Commission believes a EU wide “enforceable” legislation would ensure radioactive waste not only from nuclear power plants but also health care and other industries would be tackled effectively.

Not taking steps now would be shirking from responsibility and putting a potentially very dangerous and expensive burden on future generation of Europeans, the Commission argues.

Under the new proposals, to be unveiled by Günther Oettinger, the EU Energy Commissioner on 3rd November, member states would be legally obligated to draw up plans for radioactive waste disposal.

While member states would still be responsible for managing their radioactive waste disposal programme, independent auditors would be appointed to regulate the process.

Greenpeace has voiced strong criticism of the proposals and claimed the European Commission has ignored key questions such as the rock behaviour, human interference among other factors.

“The European Commission is pushing for deep geological disposal against a lot of problems that need to be resolved,” said Jan Haverkamp, EU energy campaigner at Greenpeace….

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October 28, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, uranium