Legal provisions of SEC(1999)1302 - 99/669/EC, Euratom: Commission Recommendation of 15 September 1999 on a classification system for solid radioactive waste (SEC(1999) 1302 final)

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dossier SEC(1999)1302 - 99/669/EC, Euratom: Commission Recommendation of 15 September 1999 on a classification system for solid radioactive waste ...
document SEC(1999)1302 EN
date September 15, 1999
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51999SC1302

99/669/EC, Euratom: Commission Recommendation of 15 September 1999 on a classification system for solid radioactive waste (SEC(1999) 1302 final)

Official Journal L 265 , 13/10/1999 P. 0037 - 0045


COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

of 15 September 1999

on a classification system for solid radioactive waste

(SEC(1999) 1302 final)

(1999/669/EC, Euratom)


THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 155 thereof, having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 124 thereof,

(1) Whereas under Article 174 of the Treaty establishing the European Community calls for promoting measures at international level to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment;

(2) Whereas Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environment(1) requires under Article 7 that 'Member States shall take the necessary steps to provide general information to the public on the state of the environment by such means as the periodic publication of descriptive reports';

(3) Whereas Council Resolution 92/C 158/02 of 15 June 1992 on the renewal of the Community plan of action in the field of radioactive waste(2) under point 1 'Continuous analysis of the situation' of the Annex, requires that the Commission will periodically provide the Council with an analysis of the situation and prospects in the field of radioactive waste management in the Member States, with special reference to safety and environmental protection requirements and the requirements of nuclear programmes and activities involving radioisotopes. The Commission will also keep the European Parliament informed of this analysis;

(4) Whereas the Community action plan in the field of radioactive waste(3) calls for, 'Concerted action on the safe management of radioactive waste' which should make it possible to 'approximate national practices and regulations in the field of safety of disposal, with particular reference to the different waste categories';

(5) Whereas the Committee of the Regions under Article 11 of Resolution 98/C 251/06 on nuclear safety and local/regional democracy(4) 'considers that many of the issues relating to the consideration of proposals for disposal of radioactive waste are complex and not subject to widespread public understanding and for this reason believes that it is crucial to ensure access to all relevant information to the public, to involve local and regional authorities, and the public in decision-making and to seek public confidence in the principles that govern the safety of repositories and in waste management programmes',

HEREBY RECOMMENDS:


on the base of the explanatory statements provided in the Annex;

that the Member States and their nuclear industry adopt a common classification system of radioactive waste for national and international communication purposes as well as to facilitate information management in this field;

that this classification system should be used for providing information concerning solid radioactive waste to the public, the national and international institutions and the non-governmental organisations. It would not replace technical criteria where required for specific safety considerations such as licensing of facilities or other operations;

that this classification system could be used by Member States. During the period to 1 January 2002 it could be used in parallel with existing national systems;

the proposed classification is summarised as follows:1. Transition radioactive waste

Type of radioactive waste (mainly from medical origin) which will decay within the period of temporary storage and may then be suitable for management outside of the regulatory control system subject to compliance with clearance levels.

2. Low and intermediate level waste (LILW)

In LILW the concentration of radionuclides is such that generation of thermal power during its disposal is sufficiently low. These acceptable thermal power values are site-specific following safety assessments.

2.1. Short-lived waste (LILW-SL)

This category includes radioactive waste with nuclides half-life less than or equal to those of Cs137 and Sr90 (around 30 years) with a restricted alpha long-lived radionuclide concentration (limitation of long-lived alpha emitting radio-nuclides to 4000 Bq/g in individual waste packages and to an overall average of 400 Bq/g in the total waste volume).

2.2. Long-lived waste (LILW-LL)

Long-lived radionuclides and alpha emitters whose concentration exceeds the limits for short-lived waste.

3. High level waste

Waste with such a concentration of radionuclides that generation of thermal power shall be considered during its storage and disposal (The thermal power generation level is site-specific and this waste is mainly forthcoming from treatment/conditioning of sent nuclear fuel).

This Recommendation is addressed to the Member States.