ASN Report 2018

• Examination of the Cigéo Safety Options Dossier (DOS) The filing of a DOS marks the start of a regulatory process (7) . ASN received the DOS for Cigéo in April 2016. At the end of the technical examination phase, the ASN draft opinion underwent public consultation, which took place from 1 August to 15 September 2017. After analysing the resulting contributions, ASN issued its opinion on 11 January 2018. ASN also sent a follow-up letter giving recommendations on the safety options to prevent or limit the risks and asked Andra for complementary studies and substantiations (corrosion phenomena, low-pH concretes, representativeness of the hydrogeological model, surveillance strategy, etc.). The demands made in this letter take into account the suggestions and comments received through the public consultation. The examination of the Cigéo DOS highlighted several issues relating to specific aspects (see box). Among these subjects, ASN expressed reservations regarding the disposal of bituminised waste in Cigéo . It considers that “ priority should be given to finding ways to neutralise the chemical reactivity of packages of bituminised waste. At the same time, studies to modify the design in order to rule out the risk of runaway exothermal reactions should be carried out. Whatever the case, characterisation of these packages of bituminised waste by their producers without delay is an essential prerequisite ”. The management of bituminised waste is moreover monitored under the PNGMDR, which demands several studies relative to the characterisation of these packages, their conditions of transport and the treatment possibilities (Articles 46, 47 and 48 of the Order of 23 February 2017). The Minister responsible for Energy, jointly with ASN, decided that an independent multidisciplinary assessment drawing on international practices should be conducted on this issue. This assessment is in progress and its conclusions are expected in mid-2019. ASN will ensure that Andra can take the conclusions into account in its creation authorisation application. • From the DOS to the creation authorisation application At present, Andra is continuing the Cigéo project design and preparing the requisite authorisation applications. Andra plans filing a Declaration of Public Utility (DUP) application and a creation authorisation application. ASN and IRSN make regular progress assessments with Andra to check that the key issues identified in the examination of the previous files have been properly taken into account. Andra must also integrate the results of the bituminised waste review in its creation authorisation application file, particularly with regard to the architecture of the ILW-LL disposal cells. In September 2018, an Internet resources platform dedicated to the deep geological disposal project (8) was put on line under Government management with the participation of ASN. The principal aim of this platform is to gather the documents produced by public entities, committees, authorities, NGOs, association and citizens. These documents illustrate the technical and societal issues relating to the Cigéo project. 7. Article 6 of the Decree of 2 November 2007 stipulates that “ any person who plans to operate a BNI can, before initiating the creation authorisation procedure provided for by Article 29 of Act 2006-686 of 13 June 2006, ask ASN for an opinion on all or part of the options it has chosen to ensure the safety of that installation. ASN, through an opinion rendered and published under the conditions determined by ASN, indicates the extent to which the safety options presented by the applicant are appropriate for preventing or limiting the risks for the interests mentioned in I of Article 28 of the Act of 13 June 2006, given the prevailing technical and economic conditions. It may indicate the additional studies and justifications that will be required for a prospective creation authorisation application. It can set a validity period for its opinion. This opinion is communicated to the applicant and to the Ministers responsible for Nuclear Safety ”. 8.  www.cigeo.gouv.fr 9. It will be formalised when the Cigéo creation authorisation application is filed. In the public debate relative to the next PNGMDR, the question of Cigéo governance (9) was identified as requiring closer examination, particularly with regard to the implementation of reversibility and the objectives of the pilot industrial phase. • The cost of the project On 15 January 2016, in accordance with the procedure stipulated in Article L. 542-12 of the Environment Code and after consideration of ASN’s opinion of February 2015 and the comments of the radioactive waste producers, the Minister responsible for Energy issued an Order setting the reference cost of the Cigéo disposal project “ at €25 billion under the economic conditions prevailing on 31 December 2011, the year in which the cost evaluation work began ”.  This Order also specifies that the cost must be updated regularly and at least at the key stages of project development (creation authorisation, commissioning, end of “industrial pilot phase”, periodic safety reviews). ASN’s opinion on the Cigéo DOS General observations ASN considers that: ཛྷ ཛྷ The project has on the whole reached satisfactory technological readiness at the DOS stage: • Detailed understanding of the Meuse/Haute-Marne site has been acquired, confirming the suitability of the chosen area. • Considerable knowledge has been compiled concerning the various components of the repository. • The disturbances that could affect the host rock and those that will occur during the transients (thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, etc.) that will result from the construction of the repository have been properly identified. The results presented tend to indicate that their extent should be limited, given the thickness of the host rock. • The principles adopted in the safety approach are consistent with the ASN safety guide of 2008 and the recommendations made by the international bodies. ཛྷ ཛྷ It is documented and supported and has made significant progress with respect to the files of 2005 and 2009. Safety options to supplement Additions are required for the facility’s creation authorisation application with regard to: ཛྷ ཛྷ the radioactive waste inventory; ཛྷ ཛྷ the bituminised waste packages and control of the fire risks; ཛྷ ཛྷ certain subjects which could lead to design changes: • justification of the repository architecture; • dimensioning of the facility to withstand hazards; • monitoring and surveillance of the facility; • post-accident situations. ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  363 14 – RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND CONTAMINATED SITES AND SOILS 14