Euratom FP6 Research Projects and Training Activities Volume III

A shared, safer solution
SAPIERR-II and its predecessor project have no equivalent
in the field of radioactive waste disposal. Currently virtually
all EU countries, even those with very small nuclear
programmes, are under pressure to follow purely national
programmes, even though the Commission and the
European Parliament have supported the concept of
regional facilities. In addition the potential contribution of
regional facilities to increasing safety, security and
economics of disposal are ever more acknowledged by
various international organisations and also by some
national disposal programmes even if they themselves do
not wish to participate in such facilities. Any of the three of
the potential outcomes of the project will have a significant
impact on subsequent European work on waste disposal
and hence on public attitudes to nuclear power. If an EDO
were to be established soon, then intensive co-operation
leading to significant cost reductions could result. If further
study is needed this will also be achieved through cooperation
between countries. If it is decided that regional
repositories are not realistic, pressure will increase on the
smaller Member States to initiate or build up their own
national disposal programmes.
The project can also promote the harmonisation of
standards governing the implementation of geological
repositories and other facilities. A regional facility will have
to satisfy the safety standards not only of its host country,
but also of all of its user countries.
Public events
The results of SAPIERR-II activities will be presented at
special workshops, included in conference contributions
and published in the open literature.
Attendees at SAPIERR II inaugural meeting in Switzerland
MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Geological disposal
© R II
Coordinator
E. Verhoef
COVRA N.V.
Spanjeweg 1
4455 TW Nieuwdorp
Nederland
Tel. (31-11) 361 66 70
Fax (31-11) 361 66 50
ewoud.verhoef@covra.nl
www.sapierr.net
Project details
Project type: Coordination Action
Project start date: 01/11/07
Duration: 24 months
Total budget: EUR 935 130
EC contribution EUR 699 930
EC Project Officer: Thomas McMenamin
European Commission
Directorate-General for Research
Unit J. 2 – Fission
CDMA 1/58
B-1049 Brussels
Tel. (32-2) 296 02 77
Fax (32-2) 295 49 91
Partners
COVRA, NL
ARAO, SI
ARIUS, CH
Decom, SL
ENEA, IT
Enviros, UK and ES
RATA, LT
SAM, UK
I N F O R M A T I O N
33