Reconciliation of the Stakeholder's Interests in Preparation of the Radioactive Waste Management Program: Lithuanian Experience

Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste underlies the amendments to the Law on Radioactive Waste Management of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter - the Law). The content of the radioactive waste management program was defined in this Law. After the entry into force of the Law the preparation of the Radioactive Waste Management Program was started. The program took into account the nuclear energy development plans of the state, national and international environmental, nuclear and radiation safety requirements and set goals, objectives, and values of the evaluation criteria of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management. In the initial stage of the preparation of the Radioactive Waste Management Program the stakeholders involved in the preparation of the program mostly agreed on the following strategic ultimate program goals the safe management of all radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel available in Lithuania; protection of people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation; and avoidance to impose undue burdens on future generations. However, on the implementation of the aforementioned program goals the stakeholders had different views, usually stipulated by their different interests, values and understanding. This paper gives an overview of the actions taken by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania in harmonizing the stakeholders' interests while ensuring the effective and timely preparation of the Radioactive Waste Management Program and the lessons learnt from it. (author)