WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1978/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. Radioactive waste disposal in Italy
C 31/110 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 communication. Maintenance and repair of churches and historic buildings are, at least partly, taken into account in the Commission communication. This communication is still under discussion in Council and discussion so far has been inconclusive. (1) OJ L 145, 13. 6. 1977. (2) SEC(97) 2089 final. (1999/C 31/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1978/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Radioactive waste disposal in Italy Further to my Written Question No 1948/97 and the answer thereto, (1) can the Commission say what progress has been made to date as regards radioactive waste disposal in Italy, with particular reference to the Caorso nuclear power-station in Piacenza province? (1) OJ C 45, 10. 2. 1998, p. 128. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (3 September 1998) Radioactive wastes resulting from the use of radioisotopes in medicine, industry and research are collected, treated and stored by Nucleare-Ecologia (Nucleco) S. p. A. At the nuclear sites, low-level radioactive waste is treated and conditioned by the Italian national electrical energy agency (ENEL) and the European nuclear energy agency (ENEA). Disposal of short-lived radioactive waste in surface or near-surface repositories is planned, and a list of possible sites has been transmitted to the ministry of Industry. Recently, a parliamentary bill has been introduced dealing with the setting up of a new agency responsible for the description, design, construction and operation of a final repository for low-level waste, as well as for the final decommissioning of nuclear power plants and pilot sites. Deep disposal of long-lived waste in a clay formation is still under investigation. The option of a centralised interim storage facility for spent reactor fuel, vitrified reprocessing waste and long-lived intermediate-level waste is under study. The particular situation regarding the fuel stored at the Caorso reactor was covered in the Commissionís reply to the Honourable Memberís Written Question 1948/97 (1). The selection of options and timing for dismantling of installations and for storage and disposal of radioactive waste is a matter of national policy. (1) OJ C 45, 10. 2. 1998. (1999/C 31/150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1997/98 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Passenger listing In view of the recent tragic ICE train disaster at Eschede, and all the doubts this casts on the safety of modern railway technology, will the Commission now review its decision not to require the listing of passengers in the Channel Tunnel? This decision was justified by the belief that modern technology would prevent the possibility of any railway accident; this belief has now been cast into serious doubt