GAMMATEC IRRADIATOR The Gammatec irradiator (BNI 170) is an industrial irradiator operated by the company Steris since 2013. Gammatec treats products by ionisation (emission of gamma radiation) with the aim of sterilising them or improving the performance of the materials. The installation consists of an industrial bunker and an experimental bunker. Both bunkers contain sealed sources of high-activity cobalt-60 which provide the radiation necessary for the facility’s activity. In October 2024 the licensee provided additional information for the periodic safety review concluding report submitted at the end of December 2023. This file is currently being examined by ASNR. In addition, the level of nuclear safety and radiation protection remains broadly satisfactory in 2024, particularly on the themes of deviation management and the monitoring of outside contractors. ÉCRIN FACILITY The Écrin facility (BNI 175) is situated in the municipality of Narbonne in the Aude département, within the Malvési site operated by Orano, which represents the first step of the “fuel cycle” (excluding extraction of the ores). The transformation process produces liquid effluents containing nitrated sludge loaded with natural uranium. The Écrin BNI consist of two storage basins (B1 and B2) containing the legacy sludge from the plant. These two basins have BNI classification due to the presence of artificial radioisotopes. The entire plant is subject to the system governing Seveso high-threshold Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment (ICPEs). The Écrin facility was commissioned by ASN resolution 2018-DC-0645 of 12 October 2018. The works defined in the Decree of 20 July 2015, which began in 2019, were completed in 2023 with the finalising of installation of the bituminous cover over the zone of the PERLE cell (PERLE is a French acronym standing for “Project for Reversible Lagoon Storage in the Écrin BNI”), excavated to the south of storage basin B2. The final containment provisions for the storage of waste within the BNI are now in place. An unannounced inspection held in October 2024 focused in particular on the handling of deviations, the performance of periodic inspections and tests and the monitoring of outside contractors. Along with this, ASN finalised its examination of the report submitted on 12 February 2021 in application of Article 7 of the Decree of 20 July 2015, describing the state of progress of the studies and investigations to assess the feasibility of the disposal options for the waste currently stored in Écrin. It has made requests that are to be taken into account in the report to be submitted in 2025. ASN has also examined the periodic safety DOR, for which the concluding report must be submitted no later than 20 July 2025. ASN considers that the level of nuclear safety and environmental protection of the facility remains satisfactory in view of the risks the facility presents. ASN now expects the licensee to make a firm commitment and efforts to assimilate the regulatory requirements specific to BNIs, notably to improve the implementation and traceability of the technical verification of the activities performed, and the management of deviations. ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 87 Regional overview of nuclear safety and radiation protection OCCITANIE
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