RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

facilitated by the fact that the review of the encapsulation plant (which delivers the product to
be emplaced in the deep repository) will have been under way for two years when the licensing
process for the deep repository is begun.
Furthermore, it should be noted that according to the reasons given for the Government’s
decision regarding SKB’s integrated account of method, site selection and programme prior to
the site investigation phase (RD&D-K), the KBS-3 method is a planning premise for the site
investigations, while final approval of a method for final disposal will not be given until a final
decision is announced on the permit applications. In order to provide the necessary supporting
material for such a decision, SKB will, as is explained above, include in the permit application
for the encapsulation plant and associated environmental impact statement a description and
evaluation of alternative methods for management and final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This
will enable the regulatory authorities and the Government to take a stand on SKB’s choice of
method when they consider the application for the encapsulation plant.
A2.2 Consultations and environmental impact statement
Licensing and permits
Three different permits are required for the deep repository and the encapsulation plant:
• Permit under the Environmental Code.
• Permit under the Nuclear Activities Act.
• Building permit under the Planning and Building Act.
The licensing processes under the Environmental Code and the Nuclear Activities Act proceed
in parallel. The supporting material for each application must include an environmental impact
statement, EIS, prepared in accordance with the rules in Chap. 6 of the Environmental Code.
The EIS must show what consequences the planned activity may have for man and the environment,
and how they can be prevented or mitigated. The scope of the EIS is determined within
the framework of the established consultation processes.
Consultations
Early consultations should be held with the County Administrative Board and those individuals
likely to be particularly affected. Early consultations have been carried out for both the encapsulation
plant and the deep repository, in both Oskarshamn and Forsmark.
According to the Ordinance on Environmental Impact Statements (SFS 1998:905), a nuclear
installation is always assumed to cause significant environmental impact. This was also the
implication of the decisions made by the county administrative boards in Kalmar and Uppsala
after SKB had submitted consultation reports from the early consultations. This means that
extended consultation with environment impact assessment is required for both the encapsulation
plant and the deep repository before the applications can be submitted. Extended consultations
should be held with the County Administrative Board, other government agencies, the
municipalities, the citizens and the organizations that are likely to be affected. The consultation
shall relate to the location, scope, design and environmental impact of the activity or measure
and the content and structure of the environmental impact statement.
The extended consultations began during 2003 and are being coordinated for the encapsulation
plant and the deep repository on each site. The extended consultations can be divided into three
phases:
• Scope of EIA.
• Investigation.
• Verification.
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