HERCA/European Radiation Passbook

HERCA[1], the association of the Heads of European Radiological protection Competent Authorities, approves the content for a harmonized European Radiation Passbook which will be sent to the European Commission for its inclusion in the European BSS.

ASN undertakes review of safety options for the new ATMEA 1 reactor developed by the joint venture formed by AREVA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)

Several countries are planning to build new nuclear power plants. In this context, ATMEA, the joint venture formed by French industrial group, AREVA, and the Japanese industrial group, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), called upon ASN to carry out a review of the safety options[1] for a new Pressurized Water Reactor known as ATMEA1. According to ATMEA, this medium-output reactor (1100 MWe) is mainly for the export market.

Information notice No 9: Despite delays at the worksite, ASN has maintained the same pace of inspection as in 2009.

During the second quarter of 2010, ASN continued its inspection activities at the Flamanville 3 EPR construction site.

ASN reports on its examination of the technical documentation on the instrumentation and control system of the Flamanville 3 EPR

In order to improve the robustness of the instrumentation and control (I&C) system [1] of the EPR reactor, ASN asked EDF to modify one of the reactor’s control platforms. EDF had already considered this modification towards the end of 2009 in response to ASN’s request on 15 October 2009.

Quarterly assessment of radiotherapy events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, reported between 1 April and 30 June 2010

Twenty-one events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, were reported between 1 April and 30 June 2010. Although these events are not expected to have any impact on patients’ health, they are analysed to see if any lessons can be learnt from them (particularly as regards organisation) and to avoid any recurrence.

Publication of ASN 2009 report in English

For the fifth consecutive year, the English version of the ASN annual report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection is available on its dedicated website, at the following address : http://annual-report2009.asn.fr/.

First international meeting on national radioactive waste management organisations held in Paris

An international meeting was held in Paris from 7 to 9 June 2010 on the establishment of a radioactive waste management organisation in each country. Organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the support of ASN, DGEC and ANDRA, the meeting brought together around 110 participants from more than 50 countries.

ASN inaugurates its Scientific Committee responsible for examining ASN's research orientations in the fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection

ASN's Scientific Committee held its first meeting on 8 July 2010.

On Thursday 8 July 2010 ASN published the Tritium White Paper, a review of current knowledge about tritium

The Tritium White Paper is the fruit of work by two broad-based working groups set up at ASN's initiative to review the behaviour of tritium in the environment and the evaluation of the biological impact of tritium on humans, in the wake of publications by British environmental and health agencies on the subject.

Statement of ASN Commission: "Which level of safety for new nuclear reactors built around the world? "

One of the major ASN concerns is to achieve harmonization based on the best nuclear safety and radiation protection levels worldwide. We do not want a “two-speed” safety and we continue to promote at European and international levels safety objectives that take into account the lessons learnt from Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and September 11, 2001 events. In the event of proposals to export nuclear reactors which do not meet these safety objectives, ASN will not hesitate to declare that such reactors could not be built in France.

Information Notice No. 8: ASN continues inspections on the EPR Flamanville reactor construction site

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) continued its inspections on the EPR Flamanville reactor construction site during the first quarter of 2010, and found work to be progressing in good order. Several issues are noteworthy.

Full report on the assessment audit coordinated by the IAEA published by ASN at www.asn.fr

The full report on the international IRRS (Integrated Regulatory Review Service) audit, carried out at the request of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) from 29 March to 3 April 2009, has just been submitted to the ASN. The hundred-page text provides supplementary details beyond the initial findings presented by the international experts at the end of the audit.

Continued operation of 900 MWe nuclear power plants: ASN has issued its first review following the third ten-year inspection at the Fessenheim and Tricastin plants

In May 2009, Reactor 1 at the Tricastin nuclear power plant in the Drôme département was shut down for four months for the “third ten-year inspection”.

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

Twenty events, classified as level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale, were reported between 1 January and 31 March 2010. Although these events are not expected to have any impact on patients' health, they are analysed to see if any lessons can be learnt from them (particularly in terms of organisation) and to avoid any recurrence.

ASN aims to reduce radon activity concentration in homes

ASN has just published and submitted to the French Government its report on the 2005-2008 action plan on radon-related risks (Radon Action Plan [1]). A second plan, currently being prepared, will focus primarily on reducing radon activity concentration in homes.