Publication Laka-library:
Summary. Strategic Environmental Assessment PALLAS
| Author | Pallas, Arcadis, NRG |
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1-01-8-56-17.pdf |
| Date | October 2017 |
| Classification | 1.01.8.56/17 (PALLAS PETTEN - LICENSING PROCEDURES) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
Summary Strategic Environmental Assessment PALLAS October 2017 Pallas, Arcadis, NRG Introduction The High Flux Reactor (HFR) in the dunes at Petten commenced operations in 1960. Since that time, ‘Petten’ has expanded into the world's largest supplier of medical isotopes. These medical isotopes are used in hospitals: for obtaining diagnoses (cancer, cardiovascular diseases) and for treatments. More than 24,000 patients a day worldwide undergo research or treatment using medical isotopes produced in the HFR at Petten. The continual availability of these isotopes, and the guarantee that they can be supplied at any given moment, is crucial for many people, sometimes even a matter of life and death. The HFR is fast approaching the end of its economic lifespan. If nothing is done, expectations are that it will gradually require more and more time and money for maintenance and repairs. Yet the production of medical isotopes must not be put at risk, as this would affect the security of supply of the isotopes. It has therefore been decided to construct a new reactor at the Research Location Petten: the PALLAS-reactor. The aerial photo (Figure 1) shows the current layout of the Research Location Petten. The HFR complex is highlighted in red. The black dotted line indicates the envisaged site for the new PALLAS-reactor. Preparatory steps At the end of 2013, the ‘Foundation Preparation PALLAS- reactor’ was founded, abbreviated: ‘PALLAS’. PALLAS aims to start construction of the new reactor and related facilities in 2020. A great deal of work has been initiated in recent years. Figure 2 shows the key steps over the coming period before construction may commence. One of the tasks of PALLAS is to ensure that a specific design is finalized: step by step and more and more various points over the coming period in which the authorized government bodies need to take decisions. Each step is important, but there are two clear milestones: • revision of the current zoning plan; • the decision regarding the Nuclear Energy Act permit (NEA permit). For both milestones, the statutory environmental impact assessment procedure ensures that sufficient environmental information is available in advance of the decision-making process, so that the authorized government bodies are able to comprehensively assess the environmental interests. The environmental information is presented in a strategic environmental assessment, the SEA. PALLAS has commissioned two SEAs for this project: • a SEA for revising the zoning plan; • an EIA (much more detailed) for the NEA permit that PALLAS is expected to request in 2019/2020.