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Chairman's Summing Up of the Sixth CEG Meeting's Major Decisions and Recommendations

(Augusta, Georgia, USA, 27 - 29 April 1998)

The 6^th CEG meeting took place in Augusta, 27-29 April 1998 and was attended by 51 participants from 9 countries, 2 international organizations and the EU.

The meeting considered four major topical issues, namely:

Overview of the implementation of the Federal WM Programme of the Russian Federation and of status of and plans on intermediate stores and final disposal of radwaste in the Russian Federation; RF High Priority Needs (Projects) worthy of immediate international attention;
Developing a CEG Consensus on "Initial (First Priority) Projects" for international co-operation on nuclear waste and spent fuel management in the Russian Federation;
CEG Long-term planning
(as reported by the Chairman of the Working Group on long-term planning);
CEG Secretariat’s reports, organisational and financial matters.

Overview of the implementation of the Federal WM Programme of the Russian Federation and of status of and plans on intermediate stores and final disposal of radwaste in the Russian Federation;

The CEG noting with appreciation some positive results achieved in implementation of and negotiations on certain co-operation projects, underlined at the same time slow progress in finalizing co-operation agreement on the most important high priority projects.

It agreed that at the next meetings special consideration and emphasis should be regularly given to problems hampering the implementation of a limited number of most important high priority projects.

The CEG also reviewed and discussed in detail the present situation with the final disposal of radwaste in the Russian Federation, its plans in this field and the existing international co-operation.

Russian Federation High Priority Needs (Projects) Worthy of Immediate International Attention

The CEG agreed that, as suggested in the Conclusion of the Long-Term Planning Working Group (Cadarache) the overall topical priorities of the CEG Long-Term Plan would include the whole technology chain of:

Wastes and spent fuel from nuclear submarines and icebreakers (North West Russia)
Legacy of plutonium production activities:
(at Mayak, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk)

Developing a CEG Consensus on "Initial (First Priority) Projects" for International Co-operation on Nuclear Waste and Spent Fuel Management in the Russian Federation.

The CEG agreed to recommend for international co-operation in nuclear waste and spent fuel management the following "Initial" (First Priority) projects:

Modernisation of the facility for the treatment of liquid radioactive wastes at the repair yard RTP "Atomflot";
Decommissioning of the floating service ship "Lepse";
Construction and commissioning of an interim storage for spent nuclear fuel at "Mayak";
Creation of metal-concrete casks for storage & transport of spent nuclear fuel deriving from nuclear submarines.
The CEG recommended that work on these projects should not only be continued, but accelerated. Work on the "Lepse" in particular had been delayed by issues related to nuclear liability and taxation.
The CEG identified a number of projects which they also considered to be of the highest priority, but which were only at the stage of assessment and/or study. The CEG strongly recommended a more active programme for the implementation of these projects which are as follows:
Improvement of the environmental situation at Andreeva Bay.
At the base of the Northern Fleet at Andreeva Bay there are stores for spent nuclear fuel, solid and liquid radioactive waste, holding these materials under less than ideal conditions. A significant level of work is required on the stabilisation of this situation and removal of the spent fuel. If international support is to become available, it will be necessary for international experts to have access to this site.
Creation of a repository for radioactive wastes in the NW Region of Russia.
A number of sites are being examined as a possible location for a repository. In particular Novaya Zemlya is being considered.
Design and construction of a specialised facility for the defuelling of nuclear submarines, withdrawn from service in the Northern Fleet.
This project is an essential technical link for the acceleration of defuelling these submarines.
The discussed and agreed upon text of the above recommendations is attached (see p. 224).

CEG Long-term planning (as reported by the Chairman of the Working Group on long-term planning)

The CEG fully endorsed the Conclusions of the WG LTP meeting, noting with appreciation that it succeeded in formulating proposals on priority topical waste management areas for potential long-term CEG support in the RF and on the schedule, forms and mechanism of preparation by the RF of a long-term conceptual Plan of Actions in the above areas for subsequent CEG support and monitoring of its implementation.

The CEG decided, as suggested by the WG, to consider the conceptual Plan of Actions at the next 7^th CEG meeting (to be circulated to the CEG members at least one month before the meeting).

CEG Secretariat’s reports, organisational and financial matters

The CEG

decided to establish an ad hoc group headed by the ISTC member and composed of representatives of France, Germany, Sweden, Russia and the US to prepare its recommendation for the next CEG meeting on ways of advancing the effectiveness of the CEG operation;
endorsed the idea of establishing a CEG World Wide Web site and asked the CEG Secretariat to do this and at the first stage to put on line general information about the CEG on the basis of already available materials (history of establishing, Terms of Reference, Chairman’s Summing Ups);
approved the presented Financial Report, having repeated its expectation that the remaining two not yet contributing CEG members will consider voluntary joining the others in financing the CEG Secretariat’s operation;
noted with satisfaction the confirmation made by the RF member to host the 7^th CEG meeting and agreed to hold it in November 1998 for 3 days during the week starting on 16 November (dates and place to be clarified by RF within 3-4 weeks);
accepted with gratitude the invitation made by Norway’s CEG member to host the 8^th CEG meeting and agreed to hold it in April-May 1999.