ASN Report 2018

IRSN conducts and implements research programmes in order to build its public expertise capacity on the very latest national and international scientific knowledge in the fields of nuclear and radiological risks. It is tasked with providing technical support for the public authorities with competence for safety, radiation protection and security, in both the civilian and defence sectors. IRSN also has certain public service responsibilities, in particular monitoring of the environment and of populations exposed to ionising radiation. IRSN manages national databases (national nuclear material accounting, national inventory of ionising radiation sources, file for monitoring worker exposure to ionising radiation, etc.), and thus contributes to information of the public concerning the risks linked to ionising radiation. • IRSN workforce As at 31 December 2018, IRSN’s overall workforce stood at 1,700 employees, of which 430 are devoted to ASN technical support. • IRSN budget The IRSN budget is presented in point 3. A five-year agreement defines the principles and procedures for the technical support provided to ASN by the Institute. This agreement is clarified on a yearly basis by a protocol identifying the actions to be performed by IRSN to support ASN. • TECV Act This 17 August 2015 Act clarifies the organisation of the system built around ASN and IRSN: ∙ ∙ It enshrines the existence and duties of IRSN within a new section 6 of the Environment Code entitled “The Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety” in Chapter 2 concerning “The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)” of Title IX of Book V of the Environment Code. ∙ ∙ It recalls that ASN benefits from IRSN technical support, indicating that this support comprises expert analysis and assessment activities “supported by research”. ∙ ∙ It clarifies the relations between ASN and IRSN, indicating that ASN “guides IRSN’s strategic programming concerning this technical support” and that the ASN Chairman is a member of the Board of the Institute. ∙ ∙ Finally, it also makes provision for the principle of the publication of IRSN opinions. 2.5.2  –  Advisory Committees of Experts To prepare its decisions and resolutions, ASN draws on the opinions and recommendations of eight Advisory Committees of Experts (GPE), with competence for waste, decommissioning, Nuclear Pressure Equipment (NPE), reactors, transport, laboratories and plants, medical radiation protection, radiation protection in non-medical sectors and the environment, respectively. At the request of ASN, the GPEs issue opinions on certain technical dossiers with significant consequences. They can also be consulted about changes in regulations or doctrine. On 2 October 2018, ASN renewed the composition of the following five Advisory Committees for a period of four years, their mandates having expired: ∙ ∙ the Advisory Committee for Nuclear Reactors (GPR); ∙ ∙ the Advisory Committee for Laboratories and Plants (GPU); ∙ ∙ the Advisory Committee for Waste (GPD); ∙ ∙ the Advisory Committee for Transport (GPT); ∙ ∙ the Advisory Committee for Nuclear Pressure Equipment (GPESPN). In total, just over half the experts appointed are new members. A new Advisory Committee was set up to for Decommissioning Activities (GPDEM), to deal with the growing challenges of the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, which are distinct from those concerning the operation of facilities in service or the management of nuclear waste. Its members were appointed for a four-year term by decision of the General Director dated 30 October 2018. For each of the subjects covered, the GPEs examine the reports produced by IRSN, by a special working group or by one of the ASN departments. They issue an opinion which can be backed up by recommendations. The GPEs consist of experts appointed individually for their competence and are open to civil society. Their members come from university and association backgrounds and from expert assessment and research organisations. They may also be licensees of nuclear facilities or come from other sectors (industrial, medical, etc.). Participation by foreign experts can help diversify the approach to problems and provide the benefit of experience acquired internationally. The members of the Advisory Committees are required to abide by the provisions of the external expert assessment charter produced at the request of ASN and contained in Appendix 2 to the ASN internal regulations. Each GPE member produces a declaration of interest. Experts with a direct interest in the subject being addressed do not take part in establishing the position of the GPE. More specifically, an organisation was defined for identifying ties and conflicts of interest and for dealing with them in an appropriate manner. Since 2009, as part of its commitment to transparency in nuclear safety and radiation protection, ASN has published the GPE letters of referral, the opinions of the GPEs and ASN’s position statements based on these opinions. IRSN for its part publishes the summaries of the technical investigation reports it presents to the GPEs. • Advisory Committee for Waste (GPD) The Advisory Committee for Waste (GPD) is chaired by Pierre Bérest and comprises 38 experts appointed for their competence in the nuclear, geological and mining fields. In 2018, an information meeting and three plenary meetings jointly with the “laboratories and plants” GPU were held. Members of the GPT and GPRADE were involved in these joint meetings. • Advisory Committee for Nuclear Pressure Equipment (GPESPN) Since 2009, the GPESPN has replaced the Standing Nuclear Section (SPN) of the CCAP. This latter was replaced as of 28 December 2016 by a standing sub-committee of the CSPRT (see point 2.4.3). The GPESPN has been chaired by Matthieu Schuler since 6 October 2018 and comprises 29 experts appointed for their competence in the field of pressure equipment. It held three plenary meetings in 2018. ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  123 02 – THE PRINCIPLES OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION AND THE REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT STAKEHOLDERS 02