Nuclear wastes: inventory and national debate

The first national inventory of nuclear wastes on the French territory has been made public, it lists information on localization, volume and production expected till 2020 of radioactive wastes. 856 sites have been reported, most part of these wastes (90% in volume) are graded to very low, low or intermediate level, they are stored definitively in 2 subsurface storing sites in the Aube department. High level radioactive wastes represent only 1639 m3 but contribute to 96% of the total waste radioactivity, these wastes are temporarily stored on La Hague and Marcoule sites like intermediate level radioactive wastes with long half-life, these wastes are concerned by the Bataille's law, this law schedules a parliamentary debate on the management of radioactive wastes in 2006. (A.C.)