The environmental impact assessment process for nuclear facilities: A review of the Lithuanian practice and experience

•Nuclear activities in Lithuania are concentrated in a single location.•New EIA studies have to consider results and assumptions of the previous studies.•Review and coordination of EIA documents may demand substantial time resources.•The public activity in EIA process depends on nuclear activity to be held.

The only one nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Republic of Lithuania – Ignalina NPP has been shutdown and entered the phase of decommissioning. Decommissioning activities, along with dismantling works, include construction and operation of a new spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management, storage and disposal facilities. The new NPP in Lithuania, if such would be constructed, are to be located adjacently to the existing plant. Current and future planned nuclear activities in Lithuania are concentrated in a single location, in the northeast of the country near the state borders with the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Belarus. Number of different projects and participants involved, necessity to control and limit overall impact on the environment require for planning and coordination of activities and impacts, including consideration and updating of outcomes from the previous environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies. Regulatory review and coordination of EIA documents also demands substantial time resources, impacts schedule of activities and therefore must be properly planned and managed. The paper describes approach and progress in EIA for nuclear activities in Lithuania and examines experience gained in preparation, review and coordination of EIA studies. Emphasis is placed on approach that has been used to deal with cumulative radiological impact because acceptability of this impact is one of primary goal in demonstration of acceptability of the newly planned nuclear activities.