Information on the accident in Centraco (Gard) : press release #1

ASN, the French Nuclear Safety Authority, activated its emergency centre located in Paris XII at 12.30 following the accident that took place in Centraco (centre for treatment and conditioning of low level radioactive waste) located in Codolet near Marcoule (Gard, South-East of France).

Quarterly assessment of radiotherapy events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, reported between 1 aril and 31 june 2010

Between 1 April and 30 June 2011, twenty-four significant radiation protection events occurring during radiotherapy were classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale. The events, which are not expected to have any impact on patients' health, were nevertheless analysed to see if any lessons can be learnt from them (particularly in terms of organisation) and to avoid any recurrence.

ASN takes a decision to temporarily set new conditions for liquid radioactive and chemical effluent discharge at the Cruas-Meysse nuclear site

On 28 July 2011, the ASN Commission adopted a temporary decision relating to effluent discharge from the Cruas-Meysse nuclear power plant.

The decision, which responds to a request submitted by EDF on 1 June 2011, was the subject of a technical and administrative investigation by ASN, a public consultation by the departmental councils on the environment and health and technological risks in Drome and Ardeche and a public consultation by the local information committee in Cruas.

ASN determines that the Osiris and Isis experimental reactors (INB no. 40) may continue to operate

In its assessment of 27 May 2011 (2011-AV-0121), ASN determined that the Osiris reactor can continue operation until 2015, at which time the reactor should be shut down in compliance with ASN Commission decision 2008-DC-0013 of 16 September 2008. For its part, the Isis reactor can continue to operate for an additional ten years from the date on which its most recent safety review file was submitted, i.e., until 2019. The two experimental reactors constitute basic nuclear installation 40 operated by the CEA in the municipality of Saclay (Essonne)[1].

ASN issues its opinion concerning the methodologies adopted by the operators in order to conduct complementary safety assessments in the light of the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima NPP

By the resolutions taken on 5 May 2011, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire – ASN) has required all operators of relevant basic nuclear installations, including AREVA, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives – CEA), the French national power utility (Électricité de France – EDF) and the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL[1]) to submit by 1 June 2011 at the latest, a memorandum describing the methodology they adopted in order to conduct the complementary safety assessment (évaluation complémentaire de la sûreté – ECS) for some of their installations with respect to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Japan, on 11 March 2011.

ASN states its position on the continued operation of reactor No. 1 of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant

In its opinion No. 2011-AV-0120 of 4 July 2011, ASN considers that subject to the forthcoming conclusions of the complementary safety assessments initiated following the Fukushima accident and in view of the result of the third periodic safety review of reactor No. 1 of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant, that reactor is capable of being operated for a period of ten more years after the third review, provided that the requirements in ASN resolution No. 2011-DC-0231 dated 4 July 2011 are complied with, particularly the following two main requirements...

ASN and AFSSAPS make recommendations for increase of requirements on radiotherapy medical devices

Two serious incidents in 2006 and 2007 led the French authorities to implement a series of measures to strengthen the security of the practice of external radiotherapy.

In line with these measures, ASN and AFSSAPS have committed a specific reflection on the relationship between the radiation protection requirements of the Directive 97/43/Euratom and IAEA recommendations to the essential requirements of Directive 93/42/EEC applicable to devices including external radiotherapy linear accelerators of electrons.

Press release on Interim Statement about the regulatory status of small amount of radioactive substances added to lamps

HERCA, the association of the Heads of European Radiological protection Competent Authorities, approves an interim Statement promoting a consistent European approach to the processes of national assessment and regulatory decisions on the use of lamps containing small amounts of radioactive substances. With this aim, the results of national assessments and regulatory decisions on this issue will be shared in Europe through HERCA. As consumer goods are introduced in open markets in Europe, HERCA recognises more generally the need for harmonization of the radiation safety regulation of goods containing small quantities of radioactive material.

Nuclear regulatory authorities decide on follow-up to the Fukushima Daiichi accident

The nuclear regulatory authorities of the G8, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) member countries and associated countries met today in Paris to discuss insights gained in relation to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident and to decide on appropriate follow-up actions at the international level.

ASN is very pleased with the agreement reached on European "stress test" specifications

On Wednesday, 25 May, the Chairman of ENSREG, Andrej Stritar, accompanied by EU Energy Commissioner Günter Oettinger, announced that an agreement had been reached between the Nuclear Safety Regulators of the 27 EU Member States and the Commission with regard to stress tests for European nuclear power plants. These audits can be officially launched as of 1 June 2011.

Fukushima: ASN asks operators to lift the environmental radioactivity monitoring adopted in France

To estimate radioactivity levels across French territory following releases from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, ASN asked operators[1] to demonstrate particular vigilance regarding the results of measurements made and to step up monitoring. Additional analyses were requested by ASN on 22 March 2011 relative to monitoring the air, entailing measuring the radioactivity levels of aerosols and gaseous iodines.

ASN asks EDF to carry out a full analysis of sensitivity and uncertainties relating to nuclear fuel management

Following its examination of the “Fuel Cycle” file, ASN has asked EDF, in a letter dated 9 May 2011, to produce a full analysis of sensitivity and uncertainties relating to nuclear fuel management within a year and to update this analysis every two years; ASN has also asked EDF to submit to it a new update of the “French Fuel Cycle” file in 2016. Further requests have also been made regarding technical aspects of management of and developments in new fuels, as well as storing spent fuel.

The French safety authority (ASN) issues specifications for “complementary safety evaluation” of French nuclear installations in the light of the accident of Fukushima

ASN believes that it is essential to learn from the accident which occurred at Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant, as it has been undertaken after the Three Mile Island and the Chernobyl accidents.

ASN organises Second International Seminar on Post Nuclear Accident Management: Advances by Codirpa

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) is organising, with the support of the French Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST), an international seminar on post nuclear accidents, i.e., managing the consequences of a nuclear accident.

ASN inspects weld repairs on the reactor vessel head for the Flamanville EPR

In November 2010, AREVA NP detected defects in several nozzle penetration* welds during its regulatory manufacturing inspections of the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor vessel head.