The transportation of low and intermediate level radioactive waste to the ''Centre de l'Aube'' disposal facility

Since 1991, low and intermediate level radioactive waste produced in France are being stored in the new shallow land waste disposal facility at Soulaines: the 'Centre de Stockage de l'Aube' (CSA). This center is located 200 km east of Paris and operated by the 'Agence Nationale pour la gestion des Dechets Radioactifs' (ANDRA). The CSA has a total capacity of 1 000 000 m3 corresponding to 30 to 40 operating years. The radioactive waste, mainly produced by the nuclear power industry, scientific research, medical and industrial sectors, is transported across France from many different locations. Most of the waste produced is shipped from the southeastern part of the country. The purpose of this paper is to present the transportation system of low and intermediate level radioactive waste to the CSA for normal operation. This analysis has been done for the reference year 1995, when the disposal facility will be in full operation. The first part presents the different waste producers, the modes of transportation and packaging, and the expected traffic to the CSA for the reference year. The second part is an assessment of the radiological impact associated to the transportation in non accidental situations. This work has been performed by the Centre d'etude sur l'Evaluation de la Protection dans le domaine Nucleaire (CEPN) for the Division of Radioactive Transportation Safety of the 'Institut de Protection et de Surete Nucleaire. (authors). 2 figs., 7 tabs., 3 refs