ASN Report 2017

42 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 The regulations concerning the management of radioactive waste In 2018, ASN will continue with the drafting of resolutions relative to radioactive waste disposal and storage facilities. These draft texts will be made available for consultation by the stakeholders and the public. ASN will also closely monitor the work to transpose Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5th December 2013 setting the basic standards for radiation protection. The licensees’ radioactive materials and waste management strategies In 2018, ASN will continue to monitor the satisfactory performance of the legacy waste and spent fuel retrieval and packaging operations, focusing on those presenting the most significant implications for safety. ASN, together with the ASND, will complete its examination of Areva’s waste management strategy, submitted in mid- 2016, and that of CEA, submitted at the end of 2016. ASN and the ASND will present their conclusions in 2018. In 2018, ASN will continue its monitoring to ensure that CEA meets its commitments concerning its old installations which no longer comply with current safety requirements. ASN will also monitor the progress of CEA’s strategic waste management projects (Diadem, BNI 37-A, solid and liquid waste management on the Saclay site) and the preparation of the decommissioning files for the old storage facilities (BNI 56, Pégase, BNI 37-B). Low Level, Long-Lived Waste (LLW-LL) With regard to low level, long-lived radioactive waste (LLW-LL), ASN considers that progress in the creation of management solutions is essential. Analysis of the file submitted by Andra in 2015, pursuant to the PNGMDR, showed that it will be difficult to demonstrate the feasibility – in the zone investigated – of a repository for all LLW-LL type waste. In its opinion of 29th March 2016, ASN asked that in accordance with the PNGMDR, Andra submit a report by mid-2019, presenting the technical and safety options for this disposal facility and an industrial management system for LLW-LL waste established jointly with the producers of these wastes. Andra has undertaken to send ASN an interim report on this subject in 2018. Depending on the conclusions of this report, the waste producers shall if necessary, on the one hand create new storage capacity to avoid delaying decommissioning operations and, on the other, speed up the deployment of alternative strategies if their waste is not compatible with the Andra project. In 2018, ASN will work on revising the safety guide relative to the disposal of LLW-LL type radioactive waste. High-Level and Intermediate-Level Long-Lived Waste (HLW and ILW-LL) With regard to the Cigéo project for disposal of HLWand ILW-LL waste, ASN will in 2018 monitor the preparation of the creation authorisation decree application by Andra, notably the steps taken following its requests concerning the safety options file. ASN asks that Andra be vigilant with regard to the industrial development times associated with the results of the R&D programme carried out by Andra and the regulatory milestones in the Cigéo installation authorisation process. ASNunderlines the importance it attaches to the progress that the waste producers must make in packaging their waste, particularly the waste resulting from retrieval and repackaging operations. Periodic safety reviews of radioactive waste management BNIs In 2018, ASN will continue to examine the conclusion reports of the periodic safety reviews of waste management facilities received in  2016 and  2017. It will continue to monitor the progress of the action plans defined by the licensees for those BNIs for which the files have already been examined. Management of the former uranium mining sites and contaminated sites and soils With regard to the former uranium mining sites, ASN will continue to support the public authorities with regard to the Areva Mines action plan for the management of mining waste rock. It will focus more specifically on the management of potentially sensitive cases, in particular with regard to the radon risk. It will ensure that any action taken is completely transparent and involves the local stakeholders. With regard to the management of contaminated sites and soils, ASN will continue its analysis of contaminated site remediation projects, on the basis of the principles of its doctrine published in October  2012. Together with the administrations concerned and the other stakeholders, ASN will also continue to monitor remediation programmes in progress. Significant events and outlook