Abstracts ASN Report 2019

ǼƏɵƏǣɀ ȇɖƬǼƺƏȸ ȵȒɯƺȸ ȵǼƏȇɎ Situated in the Gironde department, 50 km north of Bordeaux, the Blayais NPP is operated by EDF. This NPP comprises four 900 MWe pressurised water reactors. «ƺƏƬɎȒȸɀ ׏ ƏȇƳ א ƬȒȇɀɎǣɎɖɎƺ zX הזژ ƏȇƳ ȸƺƏƬɎȒȸɀ ב ƏȇƳ ג zX ژ ׏׏׎ِ ASN considers that the performance of the Blayais NPP is in line with its general assessment of EDF performance for nuclear safety, and below it for radiation protection. The environmental protection performance, although comparable with the average for the nuclear fleet, must be improved. As far as nuclear safety is concerned, ASN considers that the NPP is progressing in the area of maintenance and demonstrates proficiency in the work performed during the reactor outages. ASN does however still observe deficiencies in the quality of the operational documentation covering the preparation and performance of the activities. ASN considers that these deficiencies contribute to shortcomings in the following of procedures, which subsists in 2019 despite the implementation of an action plan on this subject. Deficiencies in monitoring in the control room, due in particular to the many demands made of the operators, have been noted in several significant events. Furthermore, in 2019 ASN observed a succession of events that could jeopardise the fuel cladding, which is the first radioactive substance containment barrier. In the area of occupational radiation protection, ASN considers that the situation regarding various aspects related to the control of radiological cleanliness, the behaviour of the workers and the organisation of the worksites has deteriorated. In addition, ASN observes a lack of integration of the experience feedback over the year, illustrated in particular by a series of events during the last of the four reactor shutdowns in 2019. As regards environmental protection, ASN considers that the licensee is being slow in providing lasting corrective solutions to the legacy pollution of the soils and groundwater detected in the last few years. It does however note that the investigations conducted by the site are moving forward. Furthermore, noncompliant non-radioactive liquid discharges occurred, linked to the difficulties the licensee is having with the upkeep of its wastewater networks. With regard to labour inspection, ASN has monitored the conformity files of the heavy cranes, locally manufactured tooling and the ventilation of premises with specific pollution characteristics. The diagnostic and remediation times are deemed too long. In collaboration with the Regional Directorate for Enterprises, Competition, Consumption, Labour and Employment (Direccte), ASN has identified poor control of the asbestos risk. A verification of employee working times was also undertaken. !ǣɮƏɖɴ ȇɖƬǼƺƏȸ ȵȒɯƺȸ ȵǼƏȇɎ The Civaux NPP is operated by EDF in the Vienne département , 30 km south of Poitiers in the Nouvelle- Aquitaine region. It comprises two 1,450 MWe pressurised water reactors. Reactors 1 and 2 constitute BNIs 158 and 159 respectively. The site accommodates one of the regional bases of the Nuclear Rapid Intervention Force (FARN) created by EDF in 2011 further to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP in Japan. Its role is to intervene in pre-accident or accident situations, on any nuclear power plant in France, by providing additional human resources and emergency equipment. ASN considers that the performance of the Civaux NPP with regard to nuclear safety, radiation protection and environmental protection is, on the whole, in line with the general assessment of EDF plant performance. In the area of nuclear safety, with regard to the operating activities, ASN considers that the reactor control operations are on the whole conducted with rigour. Nevertheless, the licensee must remain attentive to the proper preparation and performance of delicate operational control actions when other activities carried out at the same time can necessitate the attention of the same operators. ASN considers that, on the whole, the licensee successfully accomplished the maintenance activities planned during the maintenance outage of reactor 2, the only outage in 2019. The licensee must further improve the quality of the maintenance operations in order to tackle under the best possible conditions the years to come, which will have higher outage and maintenance workloads, particularly with the ten-yearly outages which will be carried out in the context of the periodic safety review of the reactors. Concerning worker radiation protection, ASN considers that the licensee has made progress in the implementation of preventionmeasures. ASN nevertheless considers that the site must improve the management of worker access to certain areas presenting a high level of exposure to ionising radiation. In the area of environmental protection, ASN considers that the licensee must improve its strategy for managing an accidental discharge of hazardous substances in order to prevent their transfer into the environment. ASN’s requirements have been prescribed by resolution 2019-DC-0666 of 18 April 2019. The material and organisational measures put in place by the licensee in this context shall be checked by ASN in 2020. ASN also considers that the licensee must improve the management of radioactive waste in its facilities. With regard to labour inspection, specific investigations were conducted following the occurrence of workplace accidents, notably after accidental exposures to asbestos. ASN considers that the licensee took appropriate measures in response to the chemical risk in 2019, the lack of control of which had been underlined in inspections the year before. ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2019 79 REGIONAL OVERVIEWOF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION z…Èà0nn0 ٳ ªÈXÁ Xz0