On 16 March, the Official State Gazette (BOE) published the announcement of the Sub-Directorate General for Nuclear Energy. Accordingly, the project of the first phase of the dismantling of the Santa María de Garoña (Burgos) nuclear power plant was submitted to public information, as well as its environmental impact study. The Spanish Government therefore announced the plan to dismantle the plant and opened a period of claims until 4 May.

According to Eguzki, after analysing the situation, the environmental and antinuclear group has submitted allegations with "information and transparency" at all stages of dismantling, environmental protection, security measures until the plant is dissolved "completely and safely" and, finally, a plan to revitalize the environment.

In addition, Eguzki has rejected the project of the first phase of dismantling the nuclear power plant and the granting of the licence: "Or, where appropriate, against being subject to the conditions of the authorisation and the alleged parties being met, assessing all damage, health and environmental risks and possible alternatives."

Natural environment and safety

Firstly, the environmental group has criticised the fact that, in the analysis of the environment, the installation of the farm and the nuclear power plant is described, but there is no mention of the natural environment.

In addition, according to Eguzki, the project does not mention "neither safety measures nor experience in nuclear power plants, nor the risks of dismantling to cause damage to human health or the environment, nor air and water pollution, nor the socioeconomic consequences that this entails".

"The presentation of the evaluation of each phase entails a reduction of guarantees and an obligation to take into account the final phase of the legal obligation to restore the environment," explains Eguzki. Therefore, it considers that the elaboration of information and analyses broken down by stages does not comply with the regulations and that the three stages of the process should be informed, analyzed and evaluated jointly.

In addition, Eguzki considered that the environment of the plant should be taken into account, "assessing its effects on human health, the environment and, above all, on safety and waste management throughout the dismantling process".