Vol. 423 No. 8
94 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Energy if he will request that a company (details supplied) carry out an environmental impact assessment prior to proceeding with the initiation of the new Thorp Complex; if he will object to this complex until such an environmental impact assessment is carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Council Directive 85/337 EEC lays down that "Member States shall adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment" are subject to an environmental impact assessment. This Directive came into effect in 1988, three years after its notification. As THORP, the extension to the Sellafield reprocessing plant, was approved by the UK Government in 1978, following a protracted public enquiry and parliamentary debate, it was not of course subject to such an assessment. However, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. have carried out an environmental assessment for discharges associated with THORP. It was concluded that the level of proposed discharges does not represent a significant risk to the individuals exposed.
In addition, under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty, the UK authorities were required to submit to the EC Commission details relating to the plan for the disposal of radioactive waste from THORP. In April this year, the Commission concluded, after having consulted a Committee of Experts drawn from member states, that the implementation of the plan was no liable either in normal operation or in the case of an accident to result in radioactive contamination significant from the point of view of health, or of the water, soil or airspace of another member state. Notwithstanding this opinion, the Government considers that all discharges into the marine and aerial environment from Sellafield should be prevented and eliminated by the use of the best available technology and environmental practice.
BNFL must now apply to the UK regulatory authorities for new authorisation for radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site, to take account of the operation of the THORP plant. I have asked the UK authorities for a copy of the draft authorisation and when I have examined it, I will make appropriate views known to the UK authorities.
