Management of waste containing enhanced natural radioactivity

By application of the decree of 16 April 2008, setting out the instructions relating to the national plan for the management of radioactive waste (PNGMDR), ASN produced a report on management solutions for waste containing enhanced natural radioactivity.

Quarterly report on Grade-1 radiotherapy events reported to the ASN, classified using the ASN-SFRO scale – third quarter of 2009

Between 1 July and 30 September 2009, 9 events were classified as Grade 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale. These events, not expected to have health consequences for patients, are nonetheless analysed for lessons learned (particularly in terms of organisation) and to ensure they do not reoccur.

Incident at EDF’s Tricastin nuclear power plant (Reactor No. 2)

Incident at EDF’s Tricastin nuclear power plant (Reactor No. 2)

ASN authorises limited resumption of dismantling operations at the ATPu facility (Cadarache CEA)

On 3 November 2009, the ASN authorised the CEA to resume activity on 22 gloveboxes at the plutonium technology facility (ATPu) of the 220 which are still to be dismantled on the site.

Joint Regulatory Position Statement on the EPR Pressurised Water Reactor

Joint Regulatory Position Statement on the EPR Pressurised Water Reactor

Incident on the ATPu nuclear facility (Cadarache CEA site): the ASN rates incident as level 2, draws up a report and suspends all dismantling operations

The incident that occurred at the ATPu (Plutonium Technology facility), a nuclear facility located at the Cadarache CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) site, and declared by the CEA on 6 October 2009, was rated as level 2 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) – a scale with 7 severity levels – by ASN (French Nuclear Safety Authority) on 12 October 2009. The CEA holds the ATPu’s licence and AREVA runs the facility.

Position statement by the college in relation to the production of radioisotopes for medical use: The risk of shortages of radioisotopes for medical use must not be allowed to compromise the safety of the reactors in which they are produced

Position statement by the college in relation to the production of radioisotopes for medical use: The risk of shortages of radioisotopes for medical use must not be allowed to compromise the safety of the reactors in which they are produced

Information notice No. 6: ASN remains vigilant and is pursuing its inspection programme at the Flamanville 3 EPR site

Newsletter No. 6: ASN remains vigilant and is pursuing its inspection programme at the Flamanville 3 EPR site

EPR Newsletter No. 6: ASN remains vigilant and is pursuing its inspection programme at the Flamanville 3 EPR site

Between 1 April and 30 June 2009, seven events were classified as Grade 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale. These events, not expected to have health consequences for the patients, are nonetheless analysed for lessons learned (particularly in terms of organisation) and to ensure they do not reoccur.

Quarterly report on Grade-1 radiotherapy events reported to the ASN, classified using the ASN-SFRO scale – second quarter of 2009

Between 1 April and 30 June 2009, seven events were classified as Grade 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale. These events, not expected to have health consequences for the patients, are nonetheless analysed for lessons learned (particularly in terms of organisation) and to ensure they do not reoccur.

The ASN adopts a position on small-beam radiotherapy treatments (radiosurgery)

In a letter from its Chairman, André-Claude Lacoste, dated 1st July (available on the ASN website, www.asn.fr), the ASN informed EDF that it had not identified any generic problem that might cause it to doubt EDF’s capacity to assure the safety of their 900-MW reactors up to the age of forty years.

International Scientific Seminar on Seismic Risk and Nuclear Safety: the ASN identifies new focuses for regulatory modernisation

The international scientific seminar on seismic risk in nuclear installations, held in Strasbourg on 17 June 2009 and organised by the ASN in conjunction with the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) and the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), allowed the ASN to identify various ways in which regulations concerning seismic risk could be modernised.

Extension of the operating lifetime of 900-MWe nuclear reactors up to 40 years: ASN considers that the conclusions of the generic studies conducted by EDF are satisfactory

On 1 July 2009, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire – ASN), in a letter from its Chairman, Mr André-Claude Lacoste, informed Electricité de France (EDF), the French electrical utility that ASN had not identified any generic problems capable of jeopardising EDF’s capability to ensure the safety of its 900-MWe reactors up to 40 years.

On 25 June 2009, the Council of the European Union adopted the Nuclear Safety Directive

The adoption of this directive constitutes an important step towards the creation of a legal framework for nuclear safety common to all Member States.

Applicable Procedure for Issuing Creation Authorisations for Nuclear Power Reactors

The French government announced recently the possibility to undertake the construction of a second nuclear-power reactor of the European-Pressurised-Reactor type (EPR) on the Penly Site, Seine-Maritime Department, where two other nuclear reactors are already implemented, each producing 1,300 MWe.