ASN Report 2018

adjust deadlines set by ASN (see chapter 13). Furthermore, the on-site storage capacities must be estimated with conservative margins in order to prevent premature filling to capacity. On the Tricastin site, the storage conditions in certain facilities which do not meet current safety requirements must be improved. ∙ ∙ Defining solutions for waste conditioning, in particular for legacy waste. These solutions require the prior approval of ASN in accordance with Article 6.7 of the Order of 7 February 2012 (see point 2.2.2). Keeping control of the conditioning deadlines is a particularly important aspect, which requires the development of characterisation programmes to demonstrate the feasibility of the chosen conditioning processes and to identify sufficiently early the risks that could significantly affect the project. If necessary, when the feasibility of the defined conditioning cannot determined within times compatible with the prescribed deadlines, the licensee must plan for an alternative solution, such as interim storage areas allowing the retrieval and characterisation of the legacy waste as rapidly as possible. Article L. 542-1-3 of the Environment Code steps up this challenge, as it requires the MLW-LL waste produced before 2015 to be packaged by the end of 2030 at the latest. Within the framework of the Waste Retrieval and Packaging (WRP) operations, Orano is examining conditioning solutions that necessitate the development of new processes, particularly for the following IL-LL waste: ∙ ∙ the sludge from the La Hague STE2 facility; ∙ ∙ the alpha-emitting technological waste which comes primarily from the La Hague and Melox plants and is not suitable for above-ground disposal. For other types of IL-LL waste resulting from the WRP operations, Orano is examining the possibility of adapting existing processes (compaction, cementation, vitrification). Part of the associated conditioning baseline requirements are currently being examined by ASN. 2.5  ̶  EDF’s waste management strategy and its assessment by ASN The radioactive waste produced by EDF comes from several distinct activities. It mainly comprises waste from the operation of the nuclear power plants, which consists of activated waste from the reactor cores, and waste from their operation and maintenance. Some legacy waste and waste resulting from ongoing decommissioning operations can be added to this. EDF is also the owner, for the share attributed to it, of HL and IL-LL waste resulting from spent fuel reprocessing in the Orano La Hague plant. • Activated waste This waste notably comprises control rod assemblies and poison rod assemblies used for reactor operation. This is IL-LL waste that is produced in small quantities. At present this waste is stored in the NPP fuel storage pools pending transfer to the Iceda facility once it comes into service. • Operational and maintenance waste Some of the waste is processed by melting or incineration in the Centraco facility, in order to reduce the volume of ultimate waste. The other types of operational and maintenance waste are conditioned on the production site then shipped to the CSA or Cires repositories for disposal (see points 1.3.1 and 1.3.2). This waste contains beta and gamma emitters, and few or no alpha emitters. At the end of 2013, EDF submitted a file presenting its waste management strategy. After examining this file, ASN in 2017 asked EDF to continue its measures to reduce the uncertainties concerning the activity of the waste sent to the CSA, to improve its organisational arrangements to guarantee the allocation of sufficient resources to radioactive waste management, and to present the most appropriate process for the treatment of used steam generators. • The issues and implications The main issues related to the EDF waste management strategy concern: ∙ ∙ The management of legacy waste. The management of legacy waste primarily concerns structural waste (graphite sleeves) from the graphite-moderated gas-cooled reactor fuels. This waste could be disposed of in a repository for LLW-LL waste (see point 1.3.4). It is stored primarily in semi-buried silos at Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux. Graphite waste is also present in the form of stacks in the gas-cooled reactors currently being decommissioned. In accordance with the PNGMDR, EDF is reassessing the activity of this waste and must submit its conclusions in 2019. ∙ ∙ Changes linked to the fuel cycle. EDF’s fuel use policy (see chapter 10) has consequences for the fuel cycle installations (see chapter 11) and for the quantity and nature of the waste produced. In a letter of 5 May 2011, ASN asked EDF to implement a more rigorous policy for managing its storage capacity for substances before their disposal or treatment (see chapter 11). More specifically with regard to waste, EDF must for example ensure that the available packaging containers can meet the disposal needs. ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  369 14 – RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND CONTAMINATED SITES AND SOILS 14