ASN Report 2018

projects initiated in 2018, such as the data mining of the 21,000 inspection follow-up letters, in order to cross-reference information and thus improve the pertinence of the checks. Then, the inspection methods themselves have changed. The inspections are more modular in the small-scale nuclear sector. They are now partly defined according to the specific features of the facility or what the inspector discovers in the field. In the Basic Nuclear Installations, a new system for the oversight of reactor outages has been finalised: it intends to replace some of the off-site documentary examinations by on-site inspections. This will be trialled as of 2019. Finally, 2018 saw the implementation of a new system to combat fraud and falsification. In addition to the creation of a portal for whistle-blowers, the f irst “anti-f raud” inspections were carried out to test an investigation methodology which will eventually become systematic. In 2019, specialists on this subject will be joining ASN. Consolidating the French and European approach through international action In 2018, ASN also continued its long-standing commitment to international actions. Over the course of the past twenty years, it has more particularly been a driving force in the development of a nuclear safety Europe, from both the technical and institutional viewpoints. The technical work was supported by the European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA). As it approaches its 20th birthday, WENRA has adopted a new strategy, to which ASN made a signif icant contribution and which aims to consolidate the networking between the safety regulators of the various European countries, by developing comparable baseline safety requirements (whether in terms of technical requirements or inspection methods), with the support of technical organisations (such as IRSN) which are themselves also networked across Europe. In addition, to reinforce the harmonisation of the national decisions taken by each of the regulators, a consultation system will be developed, enabling the counterpart Authorities to be asked for their thoughts informally before a position is adopted on a complex subject. Whatever the future development of nuclear energy in Europe, ASN and its European counterparts must continue to promote their high safety requirements on the world stage. To this end, WENRA has opened its doors to the leading nuclear countries outside Europe, notably the countries supporting new designs, and will now enable them to acquire associate member status. One of the concrete challenges for ASN will be to promote the safety requirements linked to the fourth periodic safety review of the 900MWe reactors (more particularly in countries with reactors designed by Framatome). Outlook The roadmap for 2019 also promises to be intense, addressing a number of major issues, such as: • • the welds on the EPR main secondary systems; • • the continued preparation of the ASN opinion on the generic phase of the fourth periodic safety review of the 900MWe reactors; • • opinions on the CEA and Orano decommissioning and waste management strategies; • • opinions on the safety options for the centralised spent fuel storage pool and the new-generation EPR project; • • the contribution to the public debate on the National Plan for Radioactive Materials and Waste Management. Finally, ASN will continue with work to update the regulations applicable to small-scale nuclear activities. * * * The engagement by the ASN teams is strong and unwavering. This commitment enables us to look with serenity towards the performance of the 2019 action programme. This work will also be made possible by the involvement of ASN’s partners, members of the Advisory Committees, the Scientific Committee or the various transverse working groups, which actively contribute to the performance of ASN’s duties. They have our thanks. ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  7