The national plan for radioactive waste and recoverable material management in France

The development of a National Plan for Radioactive Waste and Recoverable Material Management is a priority for the French Nuclear Safety Authority. The main objective is to search management solution for each type of radioactive waste produced. Radioactive waste without management solution should be clearly identified and management solutions should be proposed in a reasonable time schedule. The plan should take into account principles applying for waste in general and also radiation protection principles. The Nuclear Safety Authority oversees the production of the plan which is submitted periodically to a plenary group where stakeholders involved in radioactive waste management are represented. Draft recommendations are discussed during the meetings of the plenary group since the end of 2004. A draft of the National Plan for Radioactive Waste and Recoverable Material Management is available since July 2005 and the plan, in its final version, may constitute an appendix of the law on high level radioactive waste which should be discussed by the Parliament in 2006. The trends of the plan may also be approved by an article of the law. (author)