Austria

Nuclear regulatory authority

In general, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) is the competent authority, but the competences for radiation protection and nuclear and waste safety in Austria are split up between several ministries, the regional governor and district authorities, depending on the specific subject.

For the single Austrian research reactor, the TRIGA Reactor of the Atomic Institute, the Federal Ministry of Science and Research together with the BMLFUW are the competent authorities. Likewise, the competent authority for the Austrian radioactive waste management facility ‘Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf’ is the BMLFUW.

Nuclear activities

Austria has no nuclear power plants. As a result of a public referendum in 1979, Austria follows a strictly non-nuclear energy policy.

One research reactor (TRIGA Mark II, owned by the Technical University of Vienna) is in operation.

Radioactive waste and spent fuel management

Austria operates one central radioactive waste management and interim storage facility – Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH (NES) – for pre-disposal management including treatment, conditioning and interim storage of all low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) of Austria. Waste originates primarily from medicine, research, industry and decommissioning in Austria. High-level radioactive waste does not arise in Austria. There is no final repository for disposal of radioactive waste currently in operation. Austria favours an international or regional cooperation in radioactive waste management.

Main legal instruments

The main legal texts, the Radiation Protection Act (BGBl. No. 227/1969: Strahlenschutzgesetz), with major amendments in 2002 and 2004 and a minor amendment in 2006 taking into account recent EU legislation and the corresponding ordinances on radiation protection and nuclear safety (e.g. the General Radiation Protection Ordinance) contain detailed provisions concerning radiation protection, installation safety, emergency preparedness and the handling of radioactive waste.