Environmental Characterisation of a Nuclear Site Saluggia (VC) (Italy)

Abstract

This study, carried out in collaboration with SOGIN (Società Gestione Impianti Nucleari - Nuclear Treatment Plant Management Company), is an integral part of environmental characterisation activity in the area where the EUREX treatment plant is situated, near Saluggia (North West Italy). With the aim of depicting the base conditions for the environment, which will then be used to develop decommissioning activities for the plant itself, a series of criteria have been defined in order to enable the identification of the present state of the environment, i.e. geologic, hydrogeologic and chemical structure, intrinsic and integrated vulnerability and land use. The study area is situated over an unconfined aquifer in a porous media of alluvial origin in the plain on the left bank of the Dora Baltea river. The whole area is strongly affected by human activities including industrial activities, extensive areas dedicated to agricultural use, quarries and numerous hamlets.