Netherlands: government report on nuclear waste slammed for poor quality

In the Netherlands, a report commissioned by junior environment minister Chris Jansen on the environmental impact of nuclear waste storage has been severely criticized for poor quality and inaccuracy. The criticism came from the commission for environmental impact assessments (MER), which analysed the report in an independent review. According to the commission, the report fails to properly assess the impact of nuclear waste on soil, water, and air quality. Moreover, commission chairman Hans Mommaas said the document is hastily compiled, poorly translated from English, and difficult to read. He added that he was surprised that the ministry still lacks a complete overview of the amount of waste produced by individual companies in the country.
Nuclear waste in the Netherlands comes from various sites, including the nuclear power station in Borssele and the shuttered plant in Dodewaard. High-level waste from Borssele alone amounts to four cubic metres per year. The waste is stored in a facility in Vlissingen established in 1982, but it is still officially temporary.