Environmental Assessment of Chernobyl

In the framework of the “TACIS Nuclear Safety Programme” a study was carried out with the aim of preparing the decommissioning process of Units 1-3 of the Chernobyl NPP (contract no. 22702). Part of this study was the identification of facilities, which need to be constructed on the site of the Chernobyl NPP to facilitate decommissioning of the plant. To ensure that all the environmental aspects of such facilities have been taken into account and that all appropriate environmental standards are applied, an environmental assessment was performed. It had the following objectives:
Systematically review the documentation issued under contract no. 22702 with special emphasis on the proposed decommissioning facilities.
Examine the extent to which the proposed decommissioning strategy properly addresses short term and long term environmental concerns, including, but not limited to, waste water discharges into surface waters, gaseous discharges, long term protection of underground and surface waters, short and longer term waste and spent fuel storage conditions.
Review environmental standards applicable in the Ukraine to the activities and facilities implied by the proposed strategy and comparing these standards with international practice (IAEA guidelines, corresponding standards from Western countries).
Review the functional requirements suggested for the proposed facilities and to check their completeness and accuracy regarding the environmental concerns mentioned above, the local environmental standards and good international practice.

The environmental assessment was conducted by AEA Technology (BERRY), who was also in charge of the preparation of the decommissioning process (contract no. 22702). An interim report covering the review of environmental standards and the available documentation was issued in May 1995. A final report on the environmental assessment was issued in June 1995.