Draft decision of the French Nuclear Safety Authority on the control of nuisances and the impact on health and the environment from pressurized water reactors - Consultation from 21/02/2016 to 22/04/2016

The primary aim of this draft decision is to simplify the regulatory texts governing the withdrawal and consumption of water, and the discharge of liquid and gaseous effluents from French nuclear reactors into the environment. At present, these texts are specific to each of France's nuclear power plants, while many requirements are common to all sites. This draft decision therefore integrates all non-site-specific requirements into a single text. It will also make it easier to amend the regulations at a later date (a single regulatory decision instead of nineteen individual 'modalities' decisions). In addition, this draft decision revises certain provisions concerning low-stake activities, for which prior agreement from the French Nuclear Safety Authority is currently required. This revision is based on several years' experience of agreements issued by the Nuclear Safety Authority, and on improvements in environmental management implemented by the operator, who is responsible for the safety of his facility. Accordingly, the draft decision provides for the introduction of a process for informing the Nuclear Safety Authority, in place of the prior agreements previously used for activities where the stakes for protected interests are deemed low. Overall, this text does not impose any new constraints on nuclear power plant operators. It simplifies the formalities of certain operations, while maintaining the same level of environmental protection. This document brings together all the documents made available to the public for this consultation: 1 - The draft decision; 2 - The nuclear operator (Electricite de France - EDF) response to the public consultation; 3 - The National Association of Local Information Committees and Commissions (ANCCLI) response to the public consultation; 4 - Summary of public comments; 5 - The ASN decision adopted following this public consultation