Vladimir Zhidkikh, chairman of commission of the Federation Council of youth affairs and tourism, member of commission of the FC on natural monopolies:

— I would like to add the following. I studied objections of some ecological organizations which, in particular, allege that the draft law permits pumping of radioactive waste under ground. So, by the present day it is global practice. Actually all countries of the world which deal with RAW come to the conclusion that burial into deep geological disposal of RAW after processing is the only solution, and there are no other real variants yet

State Duma of RF on 20 January approved in the first reading draft law «About handing of radioactive waste (RAW)», introduced by Government of Russia. The task of the considered law is to introduce provisions of «United convention on safety of handling of spent nuclear fuel and handling of radioactive waste» ratified in the RF in 2005, into Russian legislation. Approval of the draft law will not require extra expenses covered from the Federal budget and budget funds, except the resources provided for handling of radioactive waste by Federal task program «Provision of nuclear and radiation safety for 2008 and for the period till 2015» and other task and other programs supposing measures of RAW handling, most of which was accumulated since the Soviet period in the framework of military nuclear project.

Vladimir Zhidkikh, chairman of commission of the Federation Council of youth affairs and tourism, member of commission of the FC on natural monopolies:

— I think that this law boiled up long ago and we should adopt it by all means. Russia is one of leading states in the world in the area of nuclear power sector, and by the present moment we have no exact legal mechanism that would regulate the issues of radioactive waste handling. For instance, in the USA the RAW-legacy handling act was already adopted in 1980, in Great Britain — in 1993, in Sweden – in 1975.

As for essence of the suggested draft law, I think that it in sufficient extent stipulates all legal aspects of radioactive waste handling. First, establishment of unified state system on RAW handling is supposed, the main subjects of which will be state corporation «Rosatom“ and national operator assigned by the Government. Second, financial mechanism of RAW treatment for future burial is clearly explained. Those enterprises who produce RAW on permanent basis will pay for burial thereof into special reserve funds under tariffs set by Federal tariffs service. Those enterprises who produce RAW on non-permanent basis, will be able to be limited with one-off payments. This is a simple and understandable system.

I would like to add the following. I studied objections of some ecological organizations which, in particular, allege that the draft law permits pumping of radioactive waste under ground. So, by the present day it is global practice. Actually all countries of the world which deal with RAW come to the conclusion that burial into deep geological disposal of RAW after processing is the only solution, and there are no other real variants yet».