ASN Report 2017

356 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 Chapter 12  - EDF Nuclear Power Plants legislative and regulatory texts of general scope, notably the Environment Code, the Order of 7th February 2012 and ASN resolution 2015-DC-0508 of 21st April 2015 concerning the study of waste management and the inventory of waste produced in BNIs. In compliance with the Environment Code, EDF carries out waste sorting at source, differentiating in particular between waste from nuclear zones and other waste. For all the waste, ASN examines the study produced by the licensee regarding waste management. This document is specific to each facility, as required by the regulations and as described in chapter 3, point 3.4. This document more specifically presents a description of the operations which are the cause of production of the waste, the characteristics of the waste produced or to be produced, an estimation of the waste traffic volumes and a waste zoning plan. Every year, each site also sends ASN an inventory of its production of waste and the corresponding disposal routes, a comparison with the results of previous years, a summary of deviations observed and of the organisation of the site, the list of significant events which have occurred and the outlook for the future. These elements taken from the annual reports transmitted by the licensee to ASN, the waste management studies and the inspections carried out by the ASN inspectors, constitute the basis of ASN’s monitoring of the management of waste produced by EDF’s NPPs and compliance with the regulations. 2.5.2 The prevention of health impacts and soil pollution Prevention of pollution resulting from accidental spillage of dangerous substances As on numerous industrial sites, the operation of an NPP involves the handling and storage of “dangerous” chemical substances. The management of these substances and the prevention of pollution, which are the responsibility of the licensee, are regulated by ASN resolution 2013-DC-0360 of 16th July 2013 and the Order of 7th February 2012 and must also comply with the requirements of the European texts. The licensee has obligations regarding the operational management of these substances and the identification of the corresponding potential hazards. It must also be able to take the necessary steps in the event of any unforeseen circumstances leading to pollution. The licensee must thus for instance precisely identify the location of each dangerous substance on its site, along with the relevant quantities. Drums and tanks must be labelled in compliance with the European CLP (Classification, Labelling, Packaging) regulation and there must be retention areas designed to collect any spills. The NPPs must also adopt an organisation and resources to prevent pollution of the natural environment (groundwater, river, soil). For several years and at the request of ASN, EDF has been carrying out measures to improve its management of the pollution risk by working to improve the containment of dangerous liquid substances on its sites (see box below). Through its field inspections, ASN is closely monitoring the organisational and material provisions adopted by EDF to manage the dangerous substances present in its facilities and to deal with any pollution. FUNDAMENTALS Improved confinement of liquid dangerous substances in NPPs Further to an ASN request in 2013, EDF initiated a review of its ability to ensure reliable and lasting prevention of accidental flows into the environment of dangerous substances and effluents liable to result from fire-fighting. If not collected upstream, these flows are liable to spill into the site’s wastewater and rainwater drainage network and ultimately into the environment. This review led to the implementation of a national programme, some parts of which are still being deployed. A first part consists in developing technical solutions to collect any pollution not retained upstream of the wastewater network. The preferred solution is to build retention tanks to collect the polluted waters and avoid their spilling into the environment. When this solution cannot be envisaged on a site, for example owing to a lack of space, other systems are used. This involves plugs or valves which confine the pollution directly in the wastewater system and prevent it from being drained away. Work was also carried out on the operation and maintenance of the equipment used in the collection of spills, notably retention areas. After examining operating experience feedback, EDF defines a set of operational management rules for its sites designed to prevent pollution. Finally, EDF is improving its personnel training to make them aware of the pollution risk and the corresponding prevention measures. More particularly during the course of inspections, ASN carries out spot-checks on the effective implementation of this national improvement programme.