Personnel radiation protection The operation of CEA’s radiation protection expertise centres was inspected in 2024 and this showed that the organisation put into place for worker radiation protection, as well as the action taken for the performance of the duties of these centres, were satisfactory. It should however be noted that the Significant Radiation Protection Events (ESRs) notified by CEA are up in 2024. As had been observed in 2023, a significant share of these deviations is related to problems with wearing of dosimeters. Half of these ESRs actually concern outside contractors. CEA must reinforce its actions to raise awareness among these workers. Environmental protection Control of detrimental effects and the impact on the environment by CEA’s facilities, for the year 2024, is satisfactory. The number of significant environmental events notified in 2024 is of the same order of magnitude as in previous years, with no notable events. ASN however considers that CEA must continue its efforts to take measures on several subjects associated with environmental protection and in particular upgrading of the network of piezometers, and management of the discharges continuous monitoring devices, notably with regard to pollution of soil and groundwater. Since 2021, CEA has produced an inventory of the conformity of the outfalls from its facilities. An update of this inventory was provided in 2024 with regard to the outfalls from the Cadarache site. CEA also stated that it would be continuing its work to identify the corrective action to be taken. All of these points are currently being assessed by the French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN). On the basis of its conclusions, ASN will be attentive to the pertinence of the measures finally adopted by CEA. Finally, in 2024, CEA transmitted a consolidated impact assessment for the Cadarache centre and a limited impact assessment for that in Marcoule. These are currently being analysed by ASNR. Safety reassessment of facilities ASN considers that the organisation put into place by CEA to evaluate the conformity of its facilities and reassess their safety during the periodic safety reviews, is appropriate. The inspections carried out by ASN on the topic of the periodic safety reviews identified some points for improvement which must be addressed by CEA, notably concerning monitoring of the action plan as a result of the periodic safety review. CEA will also have to continue its efforts in the coming years in order to comply with the schedule for implementation of the compliance and safety improvement work defined by these periodic safety reviews, so that in all cases a new review can be started once the deployment of the action plan from the previous review has been completed. Individual facility assessments The ASN assessments of each centre and each nuclear facility are detailed in the Regional Overview in this report. ANDRA ASN notes a positive dynamic around the examination of the creation authorisation application file for the Cigéo deep geological repository, submitted on 16 January 2023 by the National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra). The Cigéo project The technical examination of the Cigéo creation authorisation application continued in 2024, notably with two meetings of the Advisory Committee of Experts for Waste (GPD) during which the basic data and the hypotheses adopted to establish the safety case were examined, along with the safety of the facilities in the operations phase. ASN considers that, without calling into question the design of Cigéo at this stage of the examination, Andra must provide additional data before excavation work begins, notably concerning the safety case for operation of bituminous waste disposal, the closure of the intermediate level, long lived vaults (ILW-LL) and the operation of the high level (HLW) vaults. ASN considers that Andra is reactive and constructive in its responses during examination of this dossier, a point which was also underlined during the meetings of the GPD. These points confirm the demonstration that Andra has the technical capabilities needed to successfully complete the Cigéo project. In 2025, ASNR will continue its oversight of the management of the Cigéo project. Operation of Andra’s existing facilities ASN considers that operating conditions in Andra’s facilities remained satisfactory in the areas of nuclear safety, radiation protection and environmental protection in 2024. It also underlines the good quality of the safety assessments produced by Andra and the fact that the periodic safety reviews of the disposal facilities are carried out satisfactorily. The evaluation of the long-term impacts on fauna and flora of the radiological and chemical substances in the disposal facilities, as well as the approach adopted to take account of organisational and human factors for all of its activities and its operational implementation in these centres and head office departments, remain subjects for which management needs to be consolidated by Andra. ASN Assessments ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 27
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