BelNIPIenergoprom is the developer of a report on assessing the environmental impact of the future nuclear power plant. The document is compiled for the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate.
Vladimir Bobrov said, according to the preliminary report, the environmental impact of the nuclear power plant will be lower than that of power plants that burn organic fuels. The data has been confirmed by scientists, he stressed.
The BelNIPIenergoprom Deputy Director also remarked that modern safeguards will ensure high safety and reliability of the station. If an off-design accident occurs, radiation will be contained by the reactor shell.
Head of the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate Mikhail Filimonov stressed that citizens already inquire about the preliminary environmental impact report. “Rationalized answers will be given to all these questions,” he said. Mikhail Filimonov explained that all remarks and proposals of the general public should be taken into account. If necessary, the environmental impact report may be adjusted. Proposals may be declined with a rationalized explanation. An addendum to the report will list the questions asked by the general public.
Public hearings of the preliminary environmental impact report will take place in Ostrovets on 9 October. Anyone is free to participate, said Mikhail Filimonov.
Director of the Nuclear Power Engineering Department of the Belarusian Energy Ministry Nikolai Grusha said, the final edition of the environmental impact report is supposed to be ready by the end of the year. In early 2010 after the feasibility study of the nuclear station construction is approved, a decree on choosing the construction site is supposed to be adopted. The Ostrovets site in the Grodno oblast is now considered as the priority site.
The environmental impact report is posted on websites on the Energy Ministry (www.minenergo.gov.by), the Nuclear Power Plant Construction Directorate (www.dsae.by), the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry (www.minpriroda.by), the Grodno oblast administration (www.region.grodno.by), the Ostrovets region administration (www.ostrovets.grodno-region.by).
The environmental impact report has been compiled in line with Belarusian laws, including the Convention on assessing transboundary environmental impact, taking into account recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The environmental impact report has been compiled examining the modern state of environment components in 2009, research, design and exploration work that was performed when the possible sites for building the nuclear power plant were selected.
The assessment has been made taking into account the total environmental impact of existing and future facilities in the area where the future Belarusian nuclear power plant might be placed as well as social and economic life standards and the public health.