TVO submits EIA report on final disposal of very low-level nuclear waste – Comments accepted 1 June–31 July
On 14 May 2021, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj submitted an environmental impact assessment report concerning its project on the final disposal of very low-level nuclear waste in the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant area to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment acts as the coordinating authority in the project.
Because very low-level nuclear waste contains only very small concentrations of radioactive material, it can be disposed of in a near-surface facility. The report examines three locations for this kind of facility in the nuclear power plant area. Small amounts of very low-level radioactive waste generated elsewhere in Finland could also be disposed of at the facility.
As an alternative to this, the EIA report proposes that the existing final disposal facility for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste, which is built into the bedrock, be expanded.
To put a final disposal facility for very low-level nuclear waste into service requires a licence from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority under section 21 of the Nuclear Energy Act. After that, the disposal of waste at the final disposal facility could begin in 2023–2024.
EIA report available online
The EIA report is a document prepared by the party responsible for the project that includes information about the project, its alternatives and an assessment of its environmental impacts that are likely to be significant.
The EIA report is available on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 14 May 2021. https://tem.fi/en/vllw-eia. The report will be available on the website during the entire EIA procedure.
Statements and opinions accepted 1 June–31 July
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will request statements from several authorities, corporations and municipalities in the affected area and provide citizens and communities with an opportunity to express their opinions. The coordinating authority will consider them in its statement on the assessment report about the environmental impacts of the project.
Citizens, organisations and authorities may submit statements and opinions on the project until 31 July 2021. They can be submitted on the website Lausuntopalvelu.fi, by e-mail to [email protected] or by letter to the Registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment to PO Box 32, FI-00023 GOVERNMENT. Visiting address of the Registry: Ritarikatu 2 B, 00170 Helsinki. Please include the register number VN/10756/2021 in all statements and opinions.
The statements and opinions on the EIA report and the statement on the assessment report of the coordinating authority will become available on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on https://tem.fi/en/vllw-eia. The Ministry’s privacy policy statements are available on https://tem.fi/en/privacy-statements.
Public webinar on EIA report on 17 June
A webinar for the public on the project will be organised on Thursday 17 June 2021 at 18.00–20.00. During the webinar, citizens will have an opportunity to receive information about the project and its environmental impact. The address of the webinar will be provided later on https://tem.fi/en/vllw-eia
Inquiries:
Linda Kumpula, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 412 4425 or linda.kumpula(at)tem.fi (process)
Salla Palander, Coordinator, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 415 6103 or salla.palander(at)tem.fi (process)
Pasi Iivonen, Project Manager, TVO Oyj, tel. +358 50 313 3212 or pasi.iivonen(at)tvo.fi (project)
