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International Working Forum on Regulatory Supervision of Legacy Sites (RSLS)

Technical Meeting

Amel MELLOUK – ASN / DRC

Jérémie VALLET – MEDDE/MSNR

Regulatory Challenges at Legacy Sites (focus on uranium site) in France

23/10/2013

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Summary

1.French organisation

2.French regulatory framework

3.Overview of legacy sites

4.Focus on uranium mines

5.Regulatory framework developments

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French organisation

French Nuclear Safety Authority Ministry in charge of the environment and safety

Is an independant authority

Regulates and oversees the nuclear safety and radioprotection

Informs the citizens

Supports governmental actions in case of crisis/emergency events

Local representatives in the regions: ASN divisions

Is in charge of nuclear safety and radiation protection

Elaborate the regulatory framework

Local representatives: DREAL service under the authority of the State Local representative (Préfet)

Public authorities

Regulatory bodies

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French organisation

French Nuclear Safety Authority Ministry in charge of the environment and safety

Is an independant authority

Regulates and oversees the nuclear safety and radioprotection

Informs the citizens

Supports governmental actions in case of crisis/emergency events

Local representatives in the regions: ASN divisions

Is in charge of nuclear safety and radiation protection

Elaborate the regulatory framework

Local representatives: DREAL service under the authority of the State Local representative (Préfet)

Public authorities

Regulatory bodies

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French organisation

National Agency for Radioactivity Waste Management

French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety

A public service mission in terms of collection of waste from the “small-scale nuclear activities” producers or owners and clean-up and rehabilitation of orphan polluted sites

A R&D mission to propose safe long-term solution for radioactive waste  

An industrial mission concerning repositories.

An information mission with regular publication of the National Inventory of radioactive materials and waste

 

A Research and public service mission

Technical and operational support and assistance to public authorities

Consultancy Services contracted for expert assessments, research and measurements

Public organisations with industrial and

commercial activities

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French regulatory framework

Environment code Mining code Public health code

Classified installations (industrial activities)

Basic nuclear installations

Mining sites

Worker protection in the mining sites

Dealing with public protection against ionising radiation

Labour code

Dealing with worker protection against ionising radiations

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French regulatory framework

Environment code Mining code Public health code

Classified installations (industrial activities)

Basic nuclear installations

Mining sites

Worker protection in the mining sites

Dealing with public protection against ionising radiation

Labour code

Dealing with worker protection against ionizing radiations

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Main principles relating to the management of polluted sites:

Apply the “polluter pays” principle

Prevent future pollution

Identify, monitor and manage the impact of the pollution

Put the polluted sites in a safe state

Manage the sites in accordance with their future or current uses

Retain a record of the pollution and of the remediation done in the past

Inform the public about the risks linked to these sites

French regulatory framework

These principles are implemented through the legal framework and guidance documents

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« Legacy sites » defined in France as when the operator is no longer able to pay for the remediation:

The regulatory bodies may undertake actions for the safe management with the assistance of ANDRA

Legacy sites consist of:

Former radioactive waste disposals and polluted sites (about 80 sites)

Overview of legacy sites

Bayard alarm clock factory

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Legacy sites consist of:

Former sites where radium was used (more than 134 sites potentially polluted)

Overview of legacy sites

Apartment in Paris

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Overview of legacy sites Legacy sites consist of:

Former uranium mining sites (more than 250 sites)

Bellezane site

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Focus on uranium mines

The uranium industry was developed after the second world war

From 1948 to 2001

250 former sites (wide range of sizes)

8 uranium extraction process plants

17 sites of uranium residues repositories

Production of 76 000 tons of uranium

50 000 000 tons of mill tailings

167 000 000 tons of waste rocks

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Focus on uranium mines

Environment code Mining code Public health code

For tailling disposals

The operator proposes actions

Local authorities (Préfet) issue authorisations and requirements

Mining sites

From the beginning of the exploitation until the end of rehabilitation and monitoring

Local authorities (Préfet) issue authorisations and requirements

Dealing with public protection against ionising radiation around the uranium mining site

Labour code

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Focus on uranium mines

According to this regulatory framework, all actions of monitoring, rehabilitation or remediation have to be undertaken:

Under the responsibility of the operator

In compliance with authorisations issued by local authorities (Préfet)

Inspections are periodically organized to check and verify the compliance with the local authorities' requirements

DREAL leads inspections

ASN is in support for radiation protection issues

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Focus on uranium mines

Public information is ensured through

The establishment of Local Information Commission (CSS) in order to

Inform stakeholders (associations, populations living around former mining sites, local elected representative…) about monitoring, control and remediation actions achieved

The former uranium mining sites national inventory MIMAUSA

http://mimausabdd.irsn.fr/

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Focus on uranium mines

National actions implemented

National action plan set out by the ministry of environment and ASN in July 2009

Control the former uranium mining sites

Improve knowledge about the uranium mining site impact on health and safety

Improve knowledge of waste rock re-use in the public domain

Develop information for the public

Examples of actions prescribed in this action plan

Inspectors controlled every former uranium mining sites

Inventory of waste rock re-used locations

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Focus on uranium mines

National actions implemented

National plan on management of radioactive materials and waste 

Produces a regular picture of radioactive substances management policy, evaluates new requirements and determines the objectives to be met in the future

Includes the issues linked to the uranium tailings and residues

Formation of a pluralist working group (GEP Limousin)

Mandated by the ministry and ASN in 2006

Dedicated to the management of former uranium mining sites

Report with 15 recommendations in 2010

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Regulatory framework developments

French regulation provides tools to handle legacy sites

 

Some improvements are planned

Guidelines for uranium mine closures

Land use restrictions for radioactive polluted sites

Need for financial guarantees for decommissionning for industrial activities

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Thank you for your attention

Any questions ?