Abstracts ASN Report 2019

Restoring the focus on licensee prime responsibility When a sector is in difficulty, attention often turns towards the State or the competent Authorities. In this context, there could also be the temptation by the regulator to seek to regulate even further. However, we do not believe that the problems being experienced by the nuclear industry can be overcome by more regulation. Nor do we believe that the problem of fraud can be resolved solely by more inspections. ASN does not hesitate to use the full range of inspection, enforcement and sanction resources at its disposal: examples of this are the reinforced surveillance in 2019 of the operating Flamanville NPP, or the new inspections deployed to prevent fraud. In terms of nuclear safety and radiation protection however, a situation in which a licensee could “shelter behind” ASN on a long-term basis is unacceptable: the aim is always for the licensees concerned to themselves assume their prime responsibility for the protection of people and the environment in a fully satisfactory manner. And it is for this that they are accountable to ASN. It is thus our firm conviction that the means for turning the nuclear sector around lie primarily in the hands of the industry itself. Improving nuclear safety and radiation protection through dialogue ASN is open to proposals from licensees and professionals, who have prime responsibility for nuclear safety and radiation protection. These proposals must be based on technical arguments that will be subsequently examined by ASN, in most cases with the assistance of the IRSN. This is what we call an in-depth technical dialogue. The quality and sincerity of this dialogue constitutes one of the pillars on which safety and indeed progress in the field of safety are built. ASN observes nuclear activities performed in the field, notably during inspections, including by questioning the various parties involved: licensees, contractors on the worksites, care personnel in hospitals and so on. These observations are the basis of ASN’s annual evaluation of the nuclear safety and radiation protection situation for the main licensees and the various activity sectors. EDITORIAL BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL …Ǽǣɮǣƺȸ JȨÁ (ڙ٫ڙ ǣȸƺƬɎȒȸ JƺȇƺȸƏǼ 0ǔˡƬǣƺȇɎ ȒɮƺȸɀǣǕǝɎ and regulation in an unprecedented context Montrouge, 3 March 2020 With the problems encountered on the EPR construction site, questions concerning the continued operation of the reactors and the structural shortfall in key skills in certain areas, the period through which the nuclear industry is passing at the moment could be referred to as “tense”. It is therefore perfectly legitimate to question ASN’s actions, the effectiveness of its oversight and regulation and the future actions it intends to take in this unprecedented context. These actions are underpinned by four guidelines and are supported by a human resources policy appropriate to the situation. 6 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2019