Parliament Amends Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Act

Parliament on Thursday passed on second reading amendments to the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Act.

Under the changes the technical supervision of high-risk facilities on the premises of a nuclear plant which are specifically designed to be used in nuclear technology and are central to nuclear safety will be implemented by a specialized unit subordinate to the head of the licensee which operates thе nuclear facility and under the methodological guidance of the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.

The government may designate special status areas above specific nuclear facilities where airspace ban and restrictions are introduced.

In the plenary hall National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria leader Valeri Simeonov withdrew a proposal for hydropower plants in protected territories to renew their right to abstract water.

The amendment was put to the vote between the first and second reading of amendments to the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Act and concerned the enactment of provisions of the Water Act.

The Water Act bans the abstraction of surface waters for electricity generation in protected territories. Valeri Simeonov proposed an exemption for water abstraction permits issued until August 9 2010.

His proposal was seen by environmental groups as a way to allow industrial activities in protected territories.

During the meeting environmentalists protested outside Parliament.

Source: BTA