The State Of Affairs: Disposal Of Low-Level And Short-Lived Waste

The federal government decides: surface disposal in Dessel 06-2006
On June 23, the federal government has made a decision on the final disposal of Belgian low-level and short-lived waste. The government decided on a surface disposal in Dessel. Now a new phase will begin, in which a complete disposal project will be worked out and a binding agreement will be worked out that states the rights and duties of all parties concerned.
No disposal in Fleurus-Farciennes 02-2006
The municipal councils of Fleurus and Farciennes (close to Charleroi) have taken a position on the disposal project that was developed in the consultative body PaLoFF. The municipal council of Fleurus voted against, and in the municipal council of Farciennes there was an abstention.
This means that two disposal projects remain, one in Dessel and one in Mol (neighbouring municipalities). Now we are awaiting the decision of the federal government to find out where the disposal site of low level short-lived waste wil eventually be set up. In a final report for the government, ONDRAF/NIRAS will give an overall picture of the development of the low-level waste file and the further steps that have to be taken.
Decision of the government is to be expected in 2006
According to the planning, at the beginning of 2006 the supervising government should have the files at their disposal of the four municipalities (Dessel, Mol, Fleurus-Farciennes) that have investigated in a partnership if they are willing to have low-level and short-lived waste definitively on their territory. NIRAS will draw up a concluding synthesis report for the government, in which the evolution of the complete file of low-level and short-lived waste will be outlined. In this report it will be mentioned that there has been a technical investigation in 1994, with the result that 98 selected zones in 47 municipalities have a suitable sub-soil. Also the official rejection of the municipalities Beveren (Doel) and Huy (Tihange) to establish a partnership and the impossibility of creating new partnerships in other municipalities will be mentioned. In addition, further actions and the possible financing mechanisms will be proposed in this concluding report.
PaLoFF in Fleurus-Farciennes offers report to local councils 10-2005
Also in Fleurus-Farciennes (close to Charleroi), the ‘PaLoFF’ partnership has investigated whether final disposal of Belgian low-level waste was possible. At the end of October 2005 this study came to an end. The files have been sent to the local councils of Fleurus and Farciennes. They still have to discuss this matter. Afterwards, NIRAS can send this report to the supervising minister.
MONA in Mol finishes study 07-2005
The non-profit organisation ‘MONA’ submitted its advice on the disposal of low-level waste in the municipality of Mol to the local council at the end of January 2005. The local council approved this file on 25 April 2005 and sent it to NIRAS. The Management Board of NIRAS discussed the MONA file at the end of June 2005 and in July 2005 it was sent to the supervising minister.
NIRAS transmits the disposal project of STOLA-Dessel to the federal government 05-2005
After the unanimous approval of the STOLA project by the local Dessel Council on 27 January 2005, it has been transmitted to NIRAS. On 29 April 2005, it was dealt with by the NIRAS Management Board. After evaluation of the disposal project, NIRAS decided it met the demands at the technical and safety levels. The ‘conformity report’ that NIRAS has drawn up for this, has been submitted to the supervising minister together with the STOLA report and the local council decision in May 2005.