Cooperating with Regional Elected Authorities. Some cases in Spain

Spain is administratively composed of 17 Autonomous Regions (CCAA), each of them having its own Parliament. This leads to a high degree of administrative decentralisation where, usually, the Central State has the competence of setting the general conditions for the development of a given area of activity and CCAA have the right of stating and managing the particularities under which those activities will be implemented. For instance, the Parliament has the duty of issuing the General Land Planning Act, while Autonomous Parliaments will draft and pass their local Land Planning Acts under that framework. Concerning RWM, policy definition, strategy drafting and licensing of nuclear facilities is a competence of the State granted by the Constitution as reaffirmed and legally interpreted by a resolution of the High Court. On the other side, CCAA have the right to be consulted prior to the issuing of the Nuclear Regulator report on a RWM application. Regarding RWM siting there are a lot of related issues that fall directly under the competence of CCAA as regional government: Enforcement and supervision of industrial safety policy; Town Planning and Housing; Planning and licensing of infrastructures in their own territory; Local socio-economic development; Basic legislation on environmental protection is a duty of the State but management of environmental protection is a competence of CCAA. Whether REAs are a stakeholder or not in RWM siting processes use to be frequently a matter of debate. Experience shows that a series of 'syndromes' normally attributed to local populations could also be observed in REAs: NIMBY, NIMEY, etc. While in the case of NIMBY there is usually a coincidence of local and regional attitudes, NIMEY at regional level more likely will be fueled by the perception of offence in comparison with other regions. Benefit packages are important points affecting siting processes where attitudes of CCAA (in charge of promoting regional development) could be more lukewarm than those of villages involved. This overall picture promotes a view of REAs as a factual stakeholder, one with a relevant role to play. ENRESA has attempted to integrate REAs into the different efforts to promote better understanding of particular RWM projects and to work together in fostering the well-being of affected communities. This model has worked out in three CCAA where ENRESA has implemented RWM and decommissioning projects: Cataluna, Andalucia and Castilla-La Mancha. A general approach has been to work with CCAA on case by case basis. Nevertheless a common pattern has been to address three areas: How to inform elected regional leaders on the safety of RWM facilities and projects? How to discuss areas of common interest?: Informing the public; Preserving knowledge; Deal with 'territorial' issues affecting hosting and neighbouring communities; Scoping socio-economic needs of affected areas and looking for synergies. How to improve the implementation of joint socio-economic programs? After some twenty-five years of co-operation with REAs four main areas of joint activity can be highlighted: Environment where the main focus has been on fostering the preservation of natural parks and dissemination of the local environmental values; Education and culture, including participation in the establishment of two University Departments specialized in RWM (LILW management and NPP decommissioning) and the restoration and visibility of local historical heritage; Social services directed to the improvement of health care centers and centers for the elderly and disabled; Amelioration of local infrastructure and economic development, based essentially on road improvement, assistance to local entrepreneurs and training of local workforce to match the needs of RWM facilities. More and more, co-operation with REAs proves to be a satisficing path to achieve an increasing confidence in the tasks involved in RWM. Overall, REAs can help in: Defining the affected area (other than the hosting community); Achieving a proper knowledge of the safety implications of the facility; Defining and planning for shared needs; Coordinating and fostering infrastructure investment; Preserving knowledge, in a joint effort between ENRESA and universities; Accessing wider administrative areas by means of multilateral covenants or agreements with other authorities; Promoting bilateral activities between ENRESA and private stakeholders for the benefit of the area (university; entrepreneurs associations, etc.); Promoting co-operation between ENRESA and other regional actors