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.

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) evaluated by 12 international experts coordinated by the AIEA

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), at its request, had an “Integrated Regulatory Review Service” (IRRS) international audit mission conducted from 29 March to 3 April 2009.

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has presented its report on “the status of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2008” to the OPECST.

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) intends to carry on raising the level of nuclear safety in France in 2009

Quarterly report of ASN/SFRO level 1 radiotherapy events reported during first quarter 2009

Since 1 July 2008, events classified as level 1 on the ASN/SFRO scale are summarized in a general quarterly report that ASN (French Nuclear Safety Authority) publishes on its website.

Quarterly statement of radiotherapy events reported to ASN, classified as Level 1 on the ASN-SFRO (French Nuclear Safety Authority - French Society of Radiation Oncology) scale - 4th quarter 2008

Events after 1st July 2008, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale and which ASN initially reported via the incident report system, are summarised in an overall quarterly statement which was published on the ASN Internet site.

ASN Classifies Melox Incident as INES Level 2

The French nuclear safety authority (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, ASN) has classified an incident at Areva NC’s Melox mixed-oxide fuel fabrication plant at Marcoule in southern France as level 2 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).