Decommissioning, radioactive waste management and nuclear public information issues in Italy

Full text of publication follows: AIN (Associazione Italiana Nucleare or Italian Nuclear Association) is a non-profit organization that includes a wide range of competence and expertise in the field of nuclear science and technology in Italy. A leading role among AIN members is now covered by SOGIN a company mainly involved in waste treatment and conditioning together with dismantling of the Italian nuclear power plants and installations. The same company detains most of the national competences on Nuclear Power Plants operation and safety that have allowed to provide services to a number of domestic and international clients. Radioactive waste management is a major issue for the acceptability of nuclear power energy and nuclear technologies in general. A solution to the disposal of nuclear waste from the past operation of four NPP and of the Fuel Cycle Facilities together with all the other nuclear waste from hospitals, medical facilities, industries and research centres is today essential. A nuclear-waste storage facilities located in one secured place is a national priority, given the increased risks of possible terrorist attacks, accidents or natural disasters. The Italian decision needs to follow the guidelines and paths decided at the international and European level without delegating to future generations the problems and waste connected to previous use of nuclear technologies. This issue needs to be addressed and solved before starting any discussion on nuclear power in Italy as the recent case of the strong opposition against the site proposed by the Italian Government demonstrates. The site that was selected by the Italian Government is Scanzano Jonico (Matera province in the Basilicata region). The decision is based on a study by SOGIN in cooperation with other institutions such as ENEA and Italian universities, and considering a previous work of the National Geological Service. The study follows the guidelines of ONU-IAEA and the solutions adopted at the international level. The site is extremely stable from the geological point of view. It consists of a 10 km2 rock-salt layer 150 m thick protected by a clay layer 700 m thick. A similar solution has been adopted successfully for the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) in New Mexico (USA) operating from 1999. This paper outlines the main issues and considerations connected with decommissioning, radioactive waste management and site decision within the country together with more details on the quantities and quality of the Italian nuclear waste. The demonstration that decommissioning is feasible at reasonable costs and that wastes can be collected in a national repository with the highest safety levels will certainly further improve public attitude in favour of nuclear power. (author)