Legal and regulatory framework and implementation measures in decommissioning field in France - 13067

The French nuclear program developed between the 1950's and the 1980's, a large number of installations built during this period are being gradually shut down and then decommissioned, particularly over the past fifteen years. In 2011, about thirty nuclear installations of all types (electricity generating or research reactors, laboratories, fuel reprocessing plants, waste treatment facilities, etc.), were shut down or were undergoing decommissioning in France. Ensuring the safety and radiation protection of the decommissioning operations in these installations is a major concern for ASN. The French nuclear decommissioning program deals with a various kind of facilities and this activity has acquired a maturity in France. There is a clear and transparent regulatory framework in which nuclear facility decommissioning operations can be authorized and then take place. However, ASN experience on past and present cases shows that the operators may encounter a number of difficulties when conducting decommissioning projects, for instance concerning the content of a final shut down and dismantling application, the control of project's timetable or the achievement of the clean-up objectives. Consequently, ASN will carry out the continuing development of the regulatory framework for decommissioning, taking this experience into account. ASN will thus endeavour to finalise the guide on the clean-out of polluted soils on sites undergoing decommissioning and the revision of the guide relating to complete clean-out methodologies. ASN will also examine the coming final shutdown and dismantling applications (EURODIF, Phenix, Fessenheim) and bring a particular attention to the compliance with regulatory requests in order to bring a fairly robustness to the decree of authorization. Another main aspect is the maintain of competence and in this context a closer monitoring on subcontractors will be held. Finally, the question of waste management is a crucial point in a decommissioning project and ASN pursues its actions aimed at ensuring that radioactive waste is managed safely, from the moment it is first produced and assesses periodically the waste management strategies submitted and implemented by licensees.