Radons

There are no nuclear power plants in Latvia, so the country has a repository only for low and medium level radioactive waste. It is called „Radons“ and is located in Baldone, 5 km from the city of Baldone and 27 km from Riga, the capital.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

„Radons“ was built in 1962. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Until 1972, only local radioactive waste was stored there, later waste from other Soviet states was brought to Latvia. In 1986 protective garments from Chernobyl were stored there too. There is no import of radioactive waste to Latvia because it is forbidden by Latvian legislation. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content During the Soviet time, Latvia, like all other Soviet satellite countries, had a research reactor. It is located in Salaspils, not too far from Baldone, and was in operation from 1969 until 1998. Radioactive waste that was produced there is also stored in „Radons“.

„Radons“ belongs to the State and at the moment has 7 containers. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Only container No.7 is still in use (capacity – 1200 m³). In 1991 the Government made a decision for extension of „Radons“, building 2 new containers. Since „Radons“ is located very close to an inhabited locality, the Government promised a compensation for the municipality of Baldone – money for building of a school, an ambulance with a pharmacy store, a dwelling-house for teachers and a complex boiler house.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Due to various reasons, the extension was not implemented and the objects mentioned above are still being built, which later led to disagreements between the municipality and the State.

In 2008 the Government made a new decision concerning the extension of „Radons“: 2 new containers with the capacity of 1200 m³ each. A compensation for the municipality was intended in this document too, but the municipality reproached to the State that it has not performed the duties undertaken in the previous document. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content

In the new decision the extension was grounded on the necessity to store radioactive waste – approximately 1200 m³ - that would occure in the result of dismantling on Salaspils Research Reactor. It is more than „Radons“ could accomodate in container No7. Rest of the space would be used to store radioactive waste that would occure from medicine and research and industrial activities.

Since „Radons“ is located so close to an inhabited locality, locals and the municipality are not happy about its existence and especially about Government’s plans to extend "Radons". For instance, in December 2008 nearly 30 people, included youth, picketed at the Cabinet of Ministers protesting against the planned extension.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Also 3000 signatures against the extension were collected. It is a very good indicator of the anti-Radons mood, because the population of Baldone is only 6000 people.

Locals say that the presence of "Radons" produces discomfort and prejudice about Baldone, which makes negative impact on Baldone’s development and there are not many people willing to buy a real estate in the area. Also locals are concerned about "Radons" impact on health and the environment and claim the amount of information on these issues is not sufficient.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Some locals have gathered into an NGO “Musu Baldone” (Our Baldone), which went to the Administrative Court. In their claim the NGO wrote that the decision about the extension was unlawful, so it cannot be implemented. The hearing was held on September 16th 2010. The verdict was announced on October 7th and it rejected “Musu Baldone” claim. The NGO announced on their webpage that they will appeal this decision. At the moment the legal procedure is still continuing, next hearing will take place on January 10, 2012.

More information: Unfortunately most information is in Latvian. Try to use Google Chrome, Google Translate or other programs for translation.

http://www.musubaldone.lv/index.php?p=5601&lang=1079

http://www.baldone.lv/Lapas/N_Radons.htm

http://www.varam.gov.lv/lat/darbibas_veidi/radiacijas_drosiba/

http://m.apollo.lv/portal/news/articles/143119/ (Picket against the extension of "Radons", photo gallery)

http://old.vpvb.gov.lv/ivn/projekti/atzinumi/RadonsNZkops.pdf

http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=184790

http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=12484 (Latvian Law on Radiation Safety and Nuclear Safety. Also available in English, but the translation does not include latest amendments)