Czech municipalities file EU complaint over nuclear waste site assessments

Municipalities located near potential sites for a deep geological nuclear waste repository in the Czech Republic have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission. The complaint, prepared by the law firm Doucha Šikola, alleges that the Czech Ministry of the Environment unlawfully bypassed the mandatory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process.

The dispute centers on the updated Concept for Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel Management. The Ministry of the Environment concluded the SEA inquiry in June, arguing that the updated concept does not require a detailed environmental impact assessment because it contains no fundamental changes. However, local representatives and the Platform Against Deep Geological Repositories argue that because the planned capacity is increasing significantly—driven by the construction of new nuclear blocks in Dukovany and Temelín and several small modular reactors—a new SEA is legally required.

Legal experts representing the municipalities emphasize that while an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) covers specific construction projects, the SEA is the necessary tool for evaluating broad strategies and concepts. The complaint is supported by several key municipalities, including Cejle, Chanovice, Rudíkov, and Temelín, with additional support from dozens of other local communities.