Operating the centre de l'Aube

The first radioactive waste packages were received at the Centre de stockage de l'Aube (CSA) in January 1992. Since July 1994 all low and intermediate level short lived radioactive waste produced in France has been sent to this disposal facility. During loading operations, disposal structures are covered by movable buildings fitted with automated waste package handling equipment. The CSA computerized tracking system can locate a waste package at the site at any time, from the moment it is unloaded until it reaches its final disposal location, and makes it possible to assure the acceptability of the packages. The disposal vault is closed with a slab once it has been loaded with waste packages and stabilized with grout or gravel. The slab and the outside of the vault walls are coated with an impermeable material and left in that state until the final disposal cap is placed over the vault. A separative water collection system collects any water that may seep into the disposal vaults and that could come into contact with the radioactive waste packages. This water is routed to a collection basin through piping in the galleries beneath the disposal vaults. In four years, the CSA has received about 100,000 waste packages with a total volume of about 43,000 m3. (author)