overall description of an extension to the final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel to accommodate for the fuel from Loviisa 3 plant unit

Transcription

1 In reference to the application for a decisionin-principle submitted to the Government overall description of an extension to the final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel to accommodate for the fuel from Loviisa 3 plant unit

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3 Contents Contents Foreword Statement from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy Background of the project and existing decisions Stages of the licensing procedure How will the final disposal be carried out? How will the final disposal project proceed? How does the extension affect the final disposal project? Financing of final disposal Environmental impacts of the project Safety of final disposal Summary Additional information on the application and the presentation of opinions

4 Foreword In March 2009, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle to the Government regarding an extension of the fi nal disposal facility to the extent that the spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit planned by Fortum Oyj and Fortum Power and Heat Oy can be fi nally disposed of at Olkiluoto. The companies submitted their application for a decisionin-principle regarding the Loviisa 3 nuclear power plant unit to the Government in February The Government has issued decisions-in-principle on the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel in 2000 and According to these decisions-in-principle, the spent nuclear fuel from the existing plant units in Finland and the Olkiluoto 3 plant unit, a total of 6,500 tonnes of uranium (6,500 tu), can be fi nally disposed of at Olkiluoto, Eurajoki. In addition, in the spring of 2008, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle regarding the extension of the fi nal disposal facility for the spent nuclear fuel from the Olkiluoto 4 unit, bringing the total amount of fuel to be fi nally disposed of to 9,000 tu. In March 2009, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle regarding the fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit, which meant a further extension of the fi nal disposal facility by 3,000 tu of spent nuclear fuel, so that, together with the Olkiluoto 4 project, the maximum quantity of fuel to be fi nally disposed of would be 12,000 tu. In practice, the extension mainly concerns the underground facilities of the repository as their quarrying volume increases. However, the extension has no effect on the basic technical implementation of fi nal disposal. Posiva is applying for the extension of the fi nal disposal facility with an application submitted to the Government. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will subject the application to statements as required by the Nuclear Energy Act. The decision-inprinciple shall confi rm whether the extension to the fi nal disposal facility is in line with the overall good of society. Approval by the municipality in which the facility is located and an approval and preliminary safety assessment by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority are prerequisites for a positive decision-inprinciple. In compliance with the Nuclear Energy Act, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy will also request comments regarding the application for a decision-in-principle from other parties, including Eurajoki s neighbouring municipalities and the Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will provide the general public and communities with an opportunity to express their views in writing directly to the Ministry. In addition, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy will organise a hearing in Eurajoki where opinions on the project may be voiced. To allow preparations for the hearing, the applicant that is, Posiva must publish an overall description of the project as required by the Nuclear Energy Act. The description must be generally available at least one month before the public hearing is held. After the hearing, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy will prepare a summary of the presented opinions to be observed by the Government when considering the decision-in-principle. This publication describes the impact of the extension on the implementation, environmental effects and safety of the fi nal disposal facility project. The publication has been prepared in accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and the Ministry has inspected it. The overall description has been distributed to all households in the municipalities of Eura, Eurajoki, Luvia and Nakkila, as well as in the town of Rauma. The overall description is available from: Posiva Oy Communications Olkiluoto FI EURAJOKI Tel (0) palaute@posiva.fi The overall description and other documents related to the processing of the application for a decision-in-principle can be viewed on the Web pages of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy at Olkiluoto, April 2009 Posiva Oy 4

5 Statement from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy Posiva Oy STATEMENT Olkiluoto 29 April /815/2009 FI EURAJOKI Ref: Posiva Oy s application for a decision-in-principle on 13 March 2009 OVERALL DESCRIPTION OF AN EXTENSION TO THE FINAL DISPOSAL FACILITY OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL TO ACCOMMODATE THE FUEL FROM THE LOVIISA 3 PLANT UNIT Posiva Oy has submitted the overall description of an extension to the fi nal disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel to accommodate the fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit, as referred to in section 13 of the Nuclear Energy Act (990/1987), for inspection by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. Following the remarks made by the Ministry, certain amendments were made to the description and it was submitted to the Ministry in its updated form on 28 April The Ministry of Employment and the Economy has inspected the overall description. The Ministry states that the instructions issued by the Ministry regarding the drawing up of the description have been taken into account with suffi cient accuracy and that the description corresponds to the application and is appropriate in its content. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy does not see any reason why the overall description could not be published in the presented form. The Ministry takes the view that the plan regarding the distribution of the description and making it available for viewing complies with section 28 of the Nuclear Energy Decree (161/1988). The Ministry of Employment and the Economy also notes that Fortum Power and Heat Oy has an application for a decision-in-principle pending regarding the construction of the Loviisa 3 nuclear power plant unit. Mauri Pekkarinen Minister of Economic Affairs Jaana Avolahti Senior Inspector 5

6 Background of the project and existing decisions Nuclear power companies have the responsibility for nuclear waste According to the Nuclear Energy Act, spent nuclear fuel is considered nuclear waste. According to the Act, nuclear waste generated in Finland must be handled, stored and permanently disposed of in Finland. The objectives of fi nal disposal in bedrock and the overall programme aiming at the selection of a disposal location were originally defi ned by the Government in 1983 in a decision-in-principle concerning the objectives of nuclear waste management research, survey and planning work. The project for the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel has proceeded according to this plan so that fi nal disposal would begin in The responsibility for nuclear waste management lies with the nuclear power companies, who must take care of the measures associated with the management of the nuclear waste they have generated, and bear the costs for these measures. The Finnish power companies with nuclear waste management obligation, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj and Fortum Power and Heat Oy, have assigned the duties related to the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel to Posiva Oy (Posiva), which they jointly own. The responsibility of nuclear power companies extends to the time the nuclear waste is considered permanently disposed of according to law. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy decides on the principles of carrying out this obligation, and controls the conformity to law of nuclear waste management measures. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) controls the safety of the handling, storing and fi nal disposal of nuclear waste. In order to secure appropriate planning for the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the authorities have set reporting obligations for nuclear waste producers. STUK inspects the surveys and technical plans aiming at safe fi nal disposal of waste, and provides feedback to Posiva, who will carry out the project. More than 20 years of research The properties of Finnish bedrock have been surveyed on a general level with regard to fi nal disposal since the beginning of the 1980s. Research on fi nal disposal technology, especially R&D work on the manufacture and sealing of fi nal disposal canisters LICENCES Government TEOLLISUUDEN VOIMA OYJ FORTUM POWER AND HEAT OY Ministry of Employment and the Economy SUPERVISION Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT FUNDING National Nuclear Waste Management Fund POSIVA OY Consultants, research institutes, contractors, universities Organisation of nuclear waste management in Finland. 6

7 and studies related to long-term safety, were also initiated at that time. Since 1986, the fi eld surveys have aimed at clarifying the properties of bedrock suitable for the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, fi rst on fi ve locations and, since the beginning of the 1990s, on four target areas, including Olkiluoto at Eurajoki. In 1999, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle to the Government. In the application, Posiva proposed Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, as the fi nal disposal location of spent nuclear fuel. Existing decisions-in-principle The Government issued the decisions-in-principle for a fi nal disposal facility to be built at Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, on 21 December 2000 and 17 January The decision-in-principle issued in 2000 applies to the spent nuclear fuel generated in the operation of the four existing Finnish nuclear plant units (Loviisa 1 and 2 and Olkiluoto 1 and 2), with the approximate maximum of 4,000 tonnes of uranium. The decision-in-principle issued in 2002 applies to the fi nal disposal of the spent nuclear fuel from TVO s Olkiluoto 3 plant unit (2,500 tu). According to the valid decisions-in-principle, a maximum of 6,500 tu of spent nuclear fuel may thus be fi nally disposed of at Olkiluoto. Applications for a decision-in-principle currently being processed In the spring of 2008, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle regarding the extension of the spent fuel fi nal disposal facility for the spent nuclear fuel from the Olkiluoto 4 nuclear power plant unit for a maximum quantity of some 2,500 tons of uranium. After this extension, the total quantity of spent fuel to be disposed of in the fi nal disposal facility would be approximately 9,000 tons. In February 2009, Fortum Oyj and Fortum Power and Heat Oy sent an application for a decision-inprinciple regarding the Loviisa 3 unit to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and Posiva submitted its own application regarding the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the said nuclear power plant unit. The extension to the fi nal disposal facility now being proposed, to also cover the spent nuclear fuel generated at Loviisa 3, would increase the capacity of the fi nal disposal facility by an approximate maximum of 3,000 tu. Thus construction of the fi nal disposal facility extended in line with the application concerning spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit would mean the fi nal disposal of a maximum of 12,000 tu if the Government issues the decision-in-principle for 9,000 tons of uranium applied for in The extended capacity has been conservatively planned to allow for any possible changes made regarding the service lives of the plant units. Posiva implemented the EIA Procedure regarding the extension (12,000 tu) of fi nal disposal facility in The respective EIA Report is appended to the application for a decision-in-principle regarding the fi nal disposal of spent fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit. Decision-in-principle in 2001 Amount of spent nuclear fuel 4,000 tu Nuclear power plant units Olkiluoto 1, Olkiluoto 2, Loviisa 1, Loviisa 2 Decision-in-principle in ,500 tu Olkiluoto 3 Application for a decision-in-principle in ,500 tu Olkiluoto 4 Application for a decision-in-principle in ,000 tu Loviisa 3 Decisions-in-principle issued regarding the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, new applications for a decision-inprinciple and the respective fuel quantities and power plant units. 7

8 Stages of the licensing procedure Application In March 2009, Posiva submitted an application to the Government for a decision-in-principle concerning the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit at Olkiluoto. The application for a decision-in-principle seeks confi rmation of whether the extension to the fi nal disposal facility is in line with the overall good of society. Statements In accordance with the Nuclear Energy Act, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy shall obtain statements on the application from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, the municipality of Eurajoki and the neighbouring municipalities. Other parties are also being requested to provide statements. The Government can issue a positive decision-in-principle if the municipality of Eurajoki is in favour of the plant extension and the prerequisites of plant safety are deemed fulfi lled on the basis of the preliminary safety assessment by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. Public hearing In connection with the processing of the application for a decision-in-principle, citizens and organisations will be heard. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will organise a public hearing in Eurajoki. Opinions on the matter may be voiced at the hearing. Opinions may also be expressed in writing directly to the Ministry: Ministry of Employment and the Economy P.O. Box 32, FI VALTIONEUVOSTO kuuleminen@tem.fi In the submitted opinions and statements, please refer to the diary number of the issue, 809/815/2009. Decision-in-principle from the Government The Ministry of Employment and the Economy will inform the Government of the presented opinions. Before making a decision-in-principle, the Government must satisfy itself that the Municipality of Eurajoki is in favour of the extension to the fi nal disposal facility. A positive decision by the Government also requires, among other things, that no issues have arisen suggesting that the extension to the fi nal disposal facility would not be safe. Parliamentary procedure If the Government makes a positive decision-in-principle, it shall be submitted to Parliament for inspection. Parliament may either uphold the Government s positive decision or overturn it by a simple majority. Construction and operating licence of the final disposal facility A positive decision-in-principle is a prerequisite for increasing the capacity of the fi nal disposal facility by 3,000 tu. In that case, the total quantity of spent fuel to be fi nally disposed of would be 12,000 tu, pro vided the Government grants the decision-inprinciple for 9,000 tons of uranium applied for in According to current plans, the application for a construction licence for building the fi nal disposal facility will be submitted by the end of In addition to a construction licence, an operating licence is required. Posiva intends to apply for an operating licence for the fi nal disposal facility in the latter half of the 2010s so that fi nal disposal may start from 2020 as planned. The Government grants both the construction and operating licences for the fi nal disposal facility. 8

9 How will the final disposal be carried out? Final disposal facility In fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the spent nuclear fuel bundles are packed (encapsulated) into the shape required by permanent disposal into the bedrock and permanently disposed of in the bedrock. Correspondingly, the actual fi nal disposal facility consists of two sections: an encapsulating plant above ground, in which the spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa and Olkiluoto nuclear power plants is received, dried and packed into the fi nal disposal canisters, and a fi nal repository deep in the bedrock, an essential part of which consists of the tunnels in which the encapsulated spent fuel is permanently disposed of. Disposal canisters are massive metal casks. Their interior is made of nodular graphite cast iron, and the exterior is made of copper. The canisters remain leakproof in the bedrock for at least 100,000 years. 1. DISPOSAL TUNNEL 2. COMPACTED BENTONITE 3. DISPOSAL CANISTER 4. TUNNEL BACKFILL The principle of vertical and horizontal disposal solution. Final disposal isolation principle (canister, bentonite, tunnel backfi ll, bedrock). 9

10 The ONKALO construction site area is approximately two kilometres east of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant area. 6,500 tu Olkiluoto 1 Olkiluoto 2 Olkiluoto 3 Loviisa 1 Loviisa 2 9,000 tu Olkiluoto 4 12,000 tu Loviisa 3 Safety zones A lay-out of the location of repository tunnels in the Olkiluoto bedrock. The above ground fi nal disposal facility and the underground repository. 10

11 Operations above ground In the encapsulating facility, the lid of the copper canister is closed with electron beam welding, which guarantees a tight and strong seam. Next, the tightness of the weld is inspected using non-destructive testing methods such as X-ray and ultrasonic examination. Inspected and approved canisters are moved to the fi nal repository with an elevator or alternatively through an access tunnel. In addition to the encapsulating plant, facilities for auxiliary operations are also located above ground. Separate areas will be reserved for storing quarried materials and crushed stone as well as for the nec- Tunnel backfill Bedrock Bentonite Final Disposal Canister Buffer bentonite and tunnel backfill material essary construction site activities. An access tunnel and fi ve vertical shafts lead from the surface down to the fi nal repository. The vertical shafts include a passenger shaft and a canister shaft as well as three ventilation shafts. Above ground, the canister shaft connects to the encapsulating facility, and the passenger shaft to an operating building. The aboveground construction area of the repository area (i.e., the surface area of buildings, roads, storehouses and fi elds) is in total approximately 20 hectares. A shaft leads from the encapsulating facility to the fi nal repository metres below ground surface. Underground final repository The underground fi nal repository is divided into two parts: the fi nal repository tunnels in which the canisters containing spent nuclear fuel will be placed, and the central tunnels that connect the fi nal disposal tunnels and shafts. In Posiva s basic solution, the canisters will be placed in holes 6 to 8 metres deep that will be bored in the floor of the disposal tunnels. The holes will be sealed with pre-compressed bentonite clay. Alternatively, the canisters can be placed in horizontal tunnels, lined with a bentonite structure. During fi nal disposal operation, the disposal tunnels are sealed as canisters are disposed of. After placing the canisters in the tunnels, the tunnels will be fi lled up as soon as possible. Compressed clay blocks will be used as fi lling material. Buffer bentonite swells when it comes into contact with water, and it has low water conductivity. The repository tunnels are tightly backfi lled. 11

12 How will the final disposal project proceed? Verification study stage The research phase with the main objective of proving the suitability of Olkiluoto as a fi nal repository and gathering information for the fi nal disposal facility construction licence application to be submitted in 2012 is called the verifi cation research phase. For this purpose, the underground research facility ONKALO has been built in Olkiluoto since ONKALO consists of a spiral-shaped access tunnel, passenger and ventilation shafts, research, testing and demonstration facilities and technical facilities. ONKALO is designed to be used as a passage to the final repository during construction and operation of the repository. Research on the final disposal level (approximately -400 m) is expected to begin in 2009 or By March 2009, more than 3.5 kilometres of ONKALO had been quarried to a depth of 330 metres. Geological research is performed in the access tunnel while quarrying. The results will be utilised in the tunnel quarrying and construction work. Construction of the final disposal facility The fi nal disposal facility will be built in the latter half of the 2010s, provided the authorities have processed the construction licence and the Government has approved the licence. ONKALO is designed to be used as a passage to the fi nal repository during construction and operation of the repository. Part of the structural work to build the fi nal repository will be carried out already while building ONKALO. Operation of the final disposal facility Final disposal of spent nuclear fuel is expected to begin in Until then, all spent nuclear fuel will be stored in the interim storage at the Loviisa power plant and the Olkiluoto power plant before fi nal disposal, for a minimum of 40 years. From the interim storage, the fuel will be transported to the fi nal disposal facility in Olkiluoto as special transport ap- Access tunnel Exhaust air shaft Personnel shaft Supply air shaft Lowest level -437 m Lay-out of the ONKALO facility. 12

13 OPERATION OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Loviisa 1 2 Olkiluoto 1 2 Olkiluoto 3 Olkiluoto 4 Loviisa 3 PREPARATION OF FINAL DISPOSAL Construction of ONKALO, complementary research and planning Construction and commissioning of the disposal facility FINAL DISPOSAL Loviisa 1 2 Olkiluoto 1 2 Olkiluoto 3 Olkiluoto 4 Loviisa 3 DECOMMISSIONING AND CLOSURE Application for a construction licence in 2012 Application for an operation licence in 2018 Planned life cycles of the nuclear power plants and duration of nuclear fuel disposal operations. proved by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK). STUK will inspect the transportation plan, the structure of the container, the qualifi cations of transportation personnel, safety arrangements and the provisions made for accidents. The fi nal repository will be constructed in stages. The repository is to be extended as fi nal disposal progresses. Final disposal operations and quarrying will thus be in progress simultaneously, but in different tunnels. Closing of the final disposal facility According to a fi nal disposal schedule based on the spent nuclear fuel accumulation from the existing nuclear power plants and the Olkiluoto 3 unit under construction, the closure of the facility could occur no earlier than in the 2120s. The spent nuclear fuel from the planned Olkiluoto 4 and Loviisa 3 units would postpone the closure of the fi nal disposal facility to some extent. If the Olkiluoto 4 and Loviisa 3 units were to be commissioned, for example, 10 years after the Olkiluoto 3 unit is commissioned, the life span of the fi nal disposal facility will be extended by approximately the same length of time. During the fi nal disposal operation, the disposal tunnels will be sealed as canisters are disposed of. When all spent fuel has been fi nally disposed of, the encapsulation plant will be dismantled, the tunnels will be fi lled in using fi lling material, and all connections above ground will be sealed off. According to the Nuclear Energy Act, fi nal disposal of nuclear waste has been carried out when the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has verifi ed that the nuclear waste has been disposed of in a manner approved by the Authority and the party responsible for waste management has paid the State a one-off fee for the monitoring and surveillance of nuclear waste. Once these requirements have been met, the ownership of, or title to, the nuclear waste is transferred to the State, and the State must bear the responsibility for the nuclear waste from then on. Retrievability of disposed nuclear fuel Retrievability of nuclear fuel disposed of in bedrock is possible if adequate technical and fi nancial resources are available. Retrievability will provide future generations with the possibility of assessing the solution on the basis of their future knowledge. Retrievability largely utilises the same working techniques and methods as the quarrying and construction of the fi - nal repository. The canisters can be retrieved back to the surface from the fi nal repository in any phase of the project: before the closing of the repository hole, after the closing of the disposal tunnel and after the closing of the entire facility. 13

14 How does the extension affect the final disposal project? Service life of the facility The planned processing capacity of the encapsulation facility allows for simultaneous encapsulation and fi nal disposal of spent fuel from Loviisa 3, Olkiluoto 3 and the possible Olkiluoto 4 starting from the 2070s. The impact of the extension on the service life of the fi nal disposal facility mainly depends on the period of time between the commissioning of Loviisa 3 and Olkiluoto 3. If the Loviisa 3 unit were to be commissioned, for example, 10 years after the Olkiluoto 3 unit is commissioned, the life span of the fi nal disposal facility would be correspondingly extended by approximately 10 years. The extension will not affect the technical implementation principle of fi nal disposal because the same techniques would be applied to encapsulating spent nuclear fuel and placing it in the repository, irrespective of the quantity of fuel. Transportation Transportation of spent nuclear fuel from the existing nuclear power plant units in Loviisa to Olkiluoto are scheduled to start in the 2020s and end in the 2050s. If the fi nal disposal facility is extended to cater for fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit, its transportation from Loviisa to Olkiluoto would begin in the 2070s at the earliest if the new nuclear power plant unit in Loviisa were to be commissioned at the end of the 2010s. Transportation from Loviisa can be expected to end in the 2110s if Loviisa 3 were to be operated for 60 years. The plan is that transportation to Olkiluoto is made by road, but railway and sea transport have also been studied as alternative transport methods. At most, there will be ten road transports per year. The transportation of spent nuclear fuel is strictly regulated by national and international regulations and agreements. A licence for transporting spent nuclear fuel in Finland must be acquired from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK). In the event of a transport accident, the probability of radioactive releases is extremely small. The international requirements regarding transportation casks for spent nuclear fuel are extremely strict, and they specify that the cask must endure a drop on a non-resilient surface at the least favourable angle of incidence from a height of 9 metres a drop onto a steel bar with a diameter of 0.15 m from a height of one metre exposure, for at least 30 minutes, to a fi re where the flame temperature is at least 800 C immersion to a depth of 200 m for a minimum duration of one hour. Underground facilities The extension mainly concerns the underground repository. The possible need for additional space has been considered in the planning of the fi nal repository. The enclosed table shows the effects of different extension alternatives on the disposal facilities and the amount of quarried material produced. Fuel quantity 6,500 tu (basic case) 9,000 tu (Olkiluoto 4) Waste generated during encapsulation 12,000 tu (Loviisa 3) Size of the underground repository area 150 ha 190 ha 240 ha Total length of tunnels 64,000 m 82,000 m 104,000 m Volume of quarried material 1,450,000 m 3 1,670,000 m 3 2,080,000 m 3 Minor quantities of low and intermediate level waste are generated when operating the nuclear fuel encapsulating facility. The proposed extension will slightly increase the quantity of waste generated during encapsulation, as the quantity of fuel to be encapsulated increases. The quantities and activity levels of the waste are, however, very low compared to the spent nuclear fuel and to the amount of dismantling waste produced when the encapsulation plant is decommissioned. 14

15 Financing of final disposal Nuclear waste management obligation According to the Nuclear Energy Act, the licensee generating nuclear waste is responsible for the management of the waste and its costs. According to an agreement between TVO and Fortum, Posiva will assume all duties related to the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, including research, the construction, operating and decommissioning of the fi nal disposal facility, closing down the fi nal repository and transporting the spent nuclear fuel. According to the agreement, Posiva will collect the costs of these duties from its owners. Nuclear Waste Management Fund TVO and Fortum Power and Heat Oy, having the nuclear waste management obligation, have paid all nuclear waste management costs incurred so far. Money is collected from TVO and Fortum to the State Nuclear Waste Management Fund to provide for future nuclear management costs. The Fund will be available for covering the costs of nuclear waste management measures when the time comes. As part of the preparations required by the Nuclear Energy Act, TVO and Fortum Power and Heat Oy pay nuclear waste management fees to the Fund and deliver securities to the State as stipulated by the law. In the fi nancial statements confi rmed for 2008, the Fund capital was approximately EUR 1.8 billion. Posiva will include the spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit in the plans and the cost estimate after the possible Loviisa 3 investment decision has been made. Preparation for the nuclear waste management for the spent nuclear fuel from Loviisa 3, as stipulated in the Nuclear Energy Act, will begin at the plant unit s operating licence stage. Development of the Nuclear Waste Management Fund s capital. 15

16 Environmental impacts of the project Environmental Impact Assessment and EIA Report The environmental impacts of extending the fi nal disposal facility have been discussed in two separate reports in The fi rst completed environmental report is related to the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the Olkiluoto 4 unit (plant capacity 9,000 tu) while the subsequent EIA Report is related to the environmental impacts caused by the extension in preparation of spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit (plant capacity 12,000 tu). The following information is based on both the EIA process and the respective report. The environmental impact assessment considers both the anticipated impacts and the impacts of possible environmental accidents. Impacts on land use, cultural heritage, landscape, buildings and structures The fi nal disposal facility buildings above ground, and their yard areas, will require an area of some 20 hectares. The fi nal disposal facility and its extension needs have been considered when preparing the new provincial plan and the Olkiluoto partial master plan, and when reviewing the local plan. There are no cultural sites or buildings in the construction site. The impacts of the repository on the landscape will be minor. The impacts can be further reduced by leaving a suffi ciently dense forest stand between the repository and the shaft buildings. According to the EIA Report of 2008, the normal operations of the fi nal disposal facility, anticipated operational malfunctions or accidents do not pose any limitations on the land use outside the aboveground repository area. Impact of transportation and traffic At its maximum (during the operating phase in 2020), the average daily traffi c volume caused by the fi nal disposal facility on the Olkiluodontie road is expected to be approximately 100 vehicles per day. The additional traffi c caused by the fi nal disposal facility has no signifi cant impact on the total traffi c volumes because the traffi c destined to the facility is estimated to constitute only 5% of the total traffi c volume in Olkiluoto. The anticipated health effects of nuclear fuel transportation are insignifi cant because the transport casks are built so that no signifi cant amounts of radioactive substances are released from them, even in an accident. The cask is type tested for collisions, fi res and combinations of these, as well as with an immersion test. Even for imaginable serious cask damages, the radioactive release would not cause immediate health effects for the population in any normal weather conditions. ICRP s recommended values have been used in the detailed analysis of accident situations. These recommended values can be used to convert the radiation doses caused by transportation into values describing the health risk. On this basis, the risk caused by radiation related to the transportation of spent fuel is approximately ten times lower than the risks due to regular road accidents. Neither would accidents at sea cause any danger to the general public since the exposure distance would be long. Accidental releases into the sea cause very low activity levels. Therefore, people or organisms are not exposed to a signifi cant amount of radiation as a result of fuel transportation. 16

17 Impacts on the soil, bedrock and groundwater The volume of quarried material produced in excavating the bedrock facilities for the fi nal disposal of fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit is approximately 410,000 m 3. If a horizontal disposal option is chosen, the quantity of quarried stone will be smaller. Not all of the stone is needed for fi lling up the underground facilities; some can be used for other purposes. One option is to sell the stone, either as such or after crushing, to be used as landfi ll or construction material. When building and using the tunnels, groundwater leaks into open rock cavities and is pumped above ground. This will decrease the groundwater pressure level around the rock facilities, and possibly the groundwater level. The increase in leak water will cause an average groundwater surface level reduction of 2 4 metres, depending on the success of the sealing. Impacts on air quality Excavation work, site traffi c and separate functions (such as rock crushing and deposition of rock material) will generate dust locally. Vehicles and machinery will cause atmospheric emissions. The quantity of the emissions is small, and they will not affect the quality of air outside the area. Noise and vibration impacts Noise and vibration will be caused by the excavation, rock blasting, handling and crushing of quarry rock, as well as by the operation of vehicles and machines. For excavation operations, the main sources of noise are quarrying, crushing and rock drilling. Extension of the repository will have practically a nonexistent impact on the noise zones. If the amount of fuel to be disposed of increases, the repository will 17

18 simply remain in operation longer. Some noise may be caused by the excavation and drilling of any new shafts required. This will be short-term due to the fact that the ascending boring method will be used, and the excavation and drilling will not take long. Impacts on flora, fauna and objects of preservation The impacts of the project on flora and fauna are primarily related to the land areas required for buildings and structures, as well as the construction work. There are no signifi cant impacts during the operation and closing of the fi nal repository. The construction site has no natural objects of national or regional importance, or any Natura 2000 areas. Locally important natural sites have been identifi ed and will be taken into account during design. The utilisation of natural resources, such as gathering mushrooms or berries, hunting, fi shing and forest management, can be carried out as usual outside the area reserved for fi nal repository operations. Impacts of the final disposal facility on people s health As the volume of spent fuel to be disposed of increases, so the operating stage of the repository will also be extended. An increase in the amount of fuel to be disposed of or in the length of the operating time will not have a major impact on the radiation doses that an individual member of the public receives as a consequence of normal operation of the plant, anticipated operational occurrences or postulated accidents. An increase in the amount of fuel will not, therefore, cause an increase in the health risks on an individual level. As for the health risks to the entire population, these are increased in approximately direct proportion to the increase in the quantity of fuel. Social and economic impacts According to the resident survey carried out for Posiva during , Posiva s operations are considered stable and void of unexpected elements. Of the Eurajoki residents replying to the questionnaire, 52% had either a positive or a neutral attitude towards the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The biggest concern was a hypothetical situation where spent nuclear fuel would be imported to Finland for fi nal disposal. According to a study conducted by Urban Research (Kaupunkitutkimus TA Oy) in 2007, the matters deemed positive for the municipality were repository s impacts on employment and tax income. The project s impact on total employment will be approximately 550 man-years per annum at best. The main impacts on municipal economy are those related to the real estate taxes payable for the disposal facility. 18

19 Safety of final disposal Safety requirements from the Government The Finnish nuclear power legislation was last amended in The safety requirements for fi nal disposal are set out in the Government Decree on the safety of disposal of spent nuclear fuel (VNA 736/2008). The safety requirements defi ned by the Government concern the safety of the fi nal disposal facility, both during operation and after the end of fi nal disposal operation. Operating safety of the final disposal facility The design of the fi nal disposal facility aims at keeping the radiation exposure of personnel and the environment as low as reasonably achievable. With the fi nal disposal facility meeting the safety requirements, radioactive substances will cause no signifi - cant health risks to nearby residents, even in possible accident situations. The aboveground encapsulation plant will be structurally designed for any anticipated external incidents. Such events include a light aircraft crash, earthquake and flooding. The start of a chain reaction is prevented by structural solutions. Precautions against malicious damage are taken by security arrangements. There are no explosive materials in the encapsulation facility, and the fi re load is kept small. Besides gaseous substances, the most severe accident situations could also release particles. The resulting dose received by the most exposed person would be less than 0.8 msv over 50 years, an equivalent of three chest X-rays. The resulting doses would not exceed the limit value for accidents, 1 msv per year. The doses caused by potential accidents would be so small that they would not call for any immediate protection measures in the surroundings. Long-term safety Long-term safety refers to the safety of fi nal disposal after the operation of the final disposal facility has been terminated and the repositories have been closed. The fi nal disposal solution is based on the multiple barriers principle. Radioactive substances are contained within several redundant protective barriers so that no defi ciency in one barrier and no predictable geological or other change will endanger the isolation. The metal fuel assembly is in itself the fi rst barrier. The uranium within the gas-tight metal rods is solid, which slows down the release of radioactive substances. The second barrier consists of a corrosion-resistant, gas-tight canister made of copper and cast iron, containing the spent fuel assemblies. The canister is further protected by a bentonite barrier, suppressing water movement and thus preventing the conveyance of radioactive materials in case of a leak. The bedrock provides the canister and bentonite with conditions where changes are slow and predict- Chemical changes Water flow Heat Corrosion Bacterial activity Swelling of bentonite Movements of the bedrock Final disposal canister and the factors infl uencing it inside bedrock. 19

20 The final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel to accommodate for the fuel from Loviisa 3 plant unit able. Deep in the bedrock, the canisters are protected from any changes occurring above ground, such as future ice ages, and are kept away from people s normal living environment. In its statement concerning the EIA Report regarding the extension of final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has stated that the research conducted by Posiva and independent research work strengthen the earlier view that the requirements regarding the long-term safety of final disposal can be met. According to the statement issued by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, the barriers are highly likely to retain their performance capability as long as required for the containment of the radioactive substances. In its statement, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority also estimated that any partial failure of the radiation barriers as a result of, for example, glacier formation, would not result in serious consequences for the environment. For the purpose of processing the application for a decision-in-principle, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority will prepare a preliminary safety assessment for the Government regarding the longterm safety of the extension of final disposal facilities. Safety Case method and disposal site, shall be proven through a safety case that must analyse both expected evolution scenarios and unlikely events impairing long-term safety (Government Decree VNA 736/2008). The safety case consists of several complementary reports that are utilised in the safety assessment. The latest holistic safety assessment regarding Olkiluoto was completed during It was made for a horizontal disposal solution of canisters that has been studied in parallel to the vertical disposal solution since The safety assessment did not reveal any special properties or processes related to the horizontal disposal solution that might lead to significant failures of containment barriers within a time horizon of about one million years. Even in the event of a faulty canister, the releases will be limited, not exceeding the limit values set by public authorities. The current research and development work aims at defining the final disposal system s performance requirements and proving their feasibility by the end of At the end of 2009, detailed plans for a long-term safety case to be submitted with the construction licence application will be presented. The research and surveys conducted so far confirm the view that in all likelihood, final disposal of spent nuclear fuel will never cause significant adverse impacts for people or nature. Compliance with the requirements concerning longterm radiation safety, and the suitability of the disposal Multi-barrier principle for final disposal different barriers back up each other and ensure long-term safety Fuel pellet Fuel rod and bundle Canister interior Canister exterior Buffer bentonite and repository tunnel filling material metres of bedrock

21 Summary The final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel to accommodate for the fuel from Loviisa 3 plant unit In March 2009, Posiva submitted an application to the Government for a decision-in-principle regarding an extension of the fi nal disposal facility to the extent that the spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit planned by Fortum Oyj and Fortum Power and Heat Oy can be fi nally disposed of at Olkiluoto. Pursuant to the Government s earlier decisionsin-principle issued in 2000 and 2002 regarding the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the spent nuclear fuel from the existing plant units in Finland and the Olkiluoto 3 plant unit, a total of 6,500 tonnes of uranium (tu), can be fi nally disposed of at Olkiluoto. In addition, in the spring of 2008, Posiva submitted an application for a decision-in-principle regarding the extension of the fi nal disposal facility for the spent nuclear fuel from the Olkiluoto 4 unit, bringing the total amount of fuel to be fi nally disposed of to 9,000 tu. The extension to the fi nal disposal facility now being proposed to also cover the spent nuclear fuel generated at Loviisa 3 would increase the capacity of the fi nal disposal facility by an approximate maximum of 3,000 tu. Thus construction of the fi nal disposal facility extended in line with the application concerning fuel from the Loviisa 3 unit would mean the fi nal disposal of a maximum of 12,000 tu if the Government issues the decision-in-principle for 9,000 tons of uranium applied for in The possible extension to the fi nal disposal facility was taken into account in the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Posiva in The assessment considered the fi nal disposal of a fuel quantity corresponding to 12,000 tu. The data related to the assessment have been collected into the EIA Report and a separate supplementary report, both attached to the application for a decision-in-principle. Based on the EIA Report, the environmental impacts of the fi nal disposal facility extension remain minor. The extension has no signifi cant effect on the safety of the facility during operation or after closing. For the materialisation of any environmental impacts, it must be noted that the fi nal disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the Loviisa 3 plant unit would begin no sooner than in the 2070s. The current plans aim at beginning fi nal disposal at Olkiluoto in Posiva is currently building an underground research facility, ONKALO, at Olkil uoto. The information acquired in ONKALO can prove Olkiluoto bedrock s suitability for fi nal disposal, and enable the detailed design of the underground facilities. Posiva intends to submit the application for a construction licence to the Government in 2012 so that construction work could begin in the middle of the 2010s. 21

22 Additional information on the application and the presentation of opinions The Ministry Employment and the Economy will publish an announcement concerning the construction of a fi nal disposal facility on 13 May A copy of the application for a decision-in-principle and its attachments are available for viewing from 13 May 2009 to 15 July 2009 during offi ce hours at the following municipal offi ces: Eurajoki municipal offi ce, Kalliotie 5, Eurajoki Eura municipal offi ce, Sorkkistentie, Eura Luvia municipal offi ce, Kirkkotie 17, Luvia Nakkila municipal offi ce, Porintie 11, Nakkila Rauma environmental authority, Kanalinranta 3, Rauma 22

23 The application and other documents related to its processing are also available on the Web pages of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy at Opinions on the project can be presented in writing by submitting them to the registry offi ce of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (address: Ministry of Employment and the Economy, P.O. Box 32, FI VALTIONEUVOSTO, visiting address: Aleksanterinkatu 4, Helsinki) or by to on 15 July 2009 at the latest. In the submitted opinions and statements, please refer to the diary number of the issue, 809/815/2009. The public hearing required by virtue of Section 13 of the Nuclear Energy Act will be held on 16 June 2009 starting at 6:00 pm at the Eurajoki municipal offi ce (address: Kalliotie 5, Eurajoki). The hearing is open to all. Further information on the project and the application for a decision-in-principle is available from Posiva Oy, telephone +358 (0) , address: Olkiluoto, FI Eurajoki. For further information on the processing of the application at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, please contact Jaana Avolahti, Senior Inspector, tel (0)

24 Posiva Oy Olkiluoto, FI EURAJOKI Tel Fax Eura Print Oy 06/