Notification of Intent for the Environmental Impact Assessment for the PALLAS research reactor available for inspection

The Notification for Intent for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the new PALLAS research reactor will be available for inspection from 4 June to 16 July 2015. Anyone who so wishes can submit their comments on the Notification of Intent during this period.

On 26 May 2015, the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment received a Notification of Intent EIA from the Foundation Preparation PALLAS Reactor (hereafter: PALLAS). This Notification of Intent is related to the intention of PALLAS to construct a new research reactor.

Environmental impact

A new research reactor requires licences under the Nuclear Energy Act and the Water Act. The decision-making process also requires that an Environmental Impact Assessment be carried out. An EIA is a report that systematically and objectively describes all of the environmental impacts of the research reactor and proposes a number of alternatives.

Follow-up procedure

After receiving the comments, the ANVS will draw up a recommendation regarding the scope and level of detail for the EIA report, which PALLAS will use to draft an Environmental Impact Assessment. The Environmental Impact Assessment Committee will be hired as an external consultant. The recommendation regarding the scope and level of detail is expected to be ready in August 2015.

Background to the Notification of Intent

The initiator of this project is the Foundation Preparation PALLAS Reactor. PALLAS plans to construct a new, modern reactor in Petten in the Netherlands for the production of medical radioisotopes and for technological and scientific research. The new reactor will replace the existing High Flux Reactor.