The Cigéo project, a plan to store highly radioactive nuclear waste underground near the village of Bure in the Meuse region, has received a positive evaluation from an investigation commission after a public inquiry between May and July. This development is a crucial step toward possible government approval, according to officials from the Meuse and Haute-Marne prefectures. The project envisions burying about 83,000 cubic meters of nuclear waste 500 meters below ground starting in 2050. The commission’s favorable opinion, issued in August, included two reservations and two recommendations. One reservation seeks to reinforce parliamentary oversight of the pilot industrial phase, particularly regarding its duration and spatial limits, while the other calls for follow-up meetings on the project’s reversibility—essentially, whether it could be undone or modified in the future. The commission also urged the resolution of the taxation of local communes before the government officially authorizes the project. The public inquiry received over 3,166 responses, reflecting a wide range of opinions and concerns from both local residents and people across the country. The National Agency for the Management of Radioactive Waste (Andra), which manages the project, acknowledged the variety of issues raised in the contributions. While the commission affirmed that the Cigéo project has "uncontested democratic and legal legitimacy," it remains controversial among local and environmental groups. The commission noted that concerns raised by critics—such as uncertainties and gaps in the project’s design—can be addressed by Andra during the pilot phase, under the supervision of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR). Andra submitted its request for authorization for Cigéo in January 2023, but government approval depends on several administrative steps, including the public inquiry. The project’s cost has risen to an official estimate of 33.36 billion euros, up from 25 billion euros planned in 2016. The commission observed that the current funding model, which places the financial burden on the producers of nuclear waste, offers certain assurances and relieves the state from direct responsibility. However, some aspects, such as risks, the ability to retrieve waste containers, and monitoring after the site is closed, are not fully accounted for in the funding plan. Despite the commission’s favorable opinion, the Cigéo project continues to face opposition from local communities and environmental organizations, who raise concerns about safety, long-term environmental impact, and the potential risks of storing such hazardous material for thousands of years. The project’s future will depend on how these concerns are addressed and whether the government proceeds with the authorization process, which remains conditional on several administrative and legal steps.