ASN Report 2021

The performance of a national nuclear and radiological emergency exercise, at maximum intervals of five years on the nuclear sites covered by a PPI, and at least one annual exercise concerning the transport of radioactive substances, would seem to be a fair com-promise between the training of individuals and the time needed to effect changes to organisations. In 2021, in addition to the general objectives of the exercises listed earlier, additional objectives were introduced into the schedule, taking account of lessons learned and the results of the exercises and experimental training carried out in 2021. ASN is also heavily involved in the preparation and performance of other emergency exercises that have a nuclear safety component and are organised by other players such as: ∙ its counterparts for nuclear security (Defence and Security High Official –HFDS reporting to the Minister in charge of Energy) or for Defence-related facilities (ASND); ∙ international bodies (IAEA, European Commission, Nuclear Energy Agency); ∙ the Ministries for Health, the Interior, etc. In October 2021, ASN thus took part in the ConvEx-3 exercise organised by IAEA. This exercise was held over several days and considered a reactor accident in the United Arab Emirates. It notably enabled ASN to test the tools for notification and the exchange of information internationally in the event of a nuclear accident abroad. Coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French embassy in the United Arab Emirates was tested and France’s response to their assistance request was simulated. The experience acquired during these exercises should enable the ASN personnel to respond more effectively in real emergency situations. Drawing on the lessons learned from previous feedback, the 2021 exercise simulating a radioactive substances transport accident tested a national emergency response orga– nisation better suited to the local organisations associated with management of risks other than the nuclear risk. 3.2 Assessing with a view to improvement Assessment meetings are organised immediately after each exercise in each emergency centre and at ASN a few weeks after the exercise. ASN, along with the other players, endeavours to identify best practices and the areas for improvement brought to light during these exercises. These assessment meetings enable the players to share their experience through a participative approach. They more specifically revealed: ∙ the importance of having scenarios that were as realistic as possible, in real meteorological conditions and that were technically complex enough to be able to provide useful experience feedback; ∙ the importance of communication in an emergency situation, in particular to inform the public and foreign authorities as rapidly as possible and avoid the spread of rumours liable to hamper good emergency management, in France and in other countries; ∙ the importance of providing the decision-makers with a clear view of the radiological impacts in the form of maps: the tool called “Criter” developed by IRSN gives a representation of the results of environmental radioactivity measurements. TABLE National civil nuclear and radiological emergency exercises conducted in 2021 NUCLEAR SITE DATES OF EXERCISE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS Orano La Hague site (50) 2 and 3 February • Decision-making process and simulatedmedia pressure EDF Saint-Laurent-des-Eaux NPP (41) 18 and 19 May • SECNUC 2021 major exercise (mobilisation of the CIC) • Post-accident situationmanagement • Decision and forward planning • Simulatedmedia pressure EDF Penly NPP (76) 24 March and 14 September • Decision-making process • Simulation of the CIC decision-making cell • Post-accident workshop EDF Gravelines NPP (59) 21 and 22 September • Decision-making process • Simulation of the CIC decision-making cell • Simulatedmedia pressure • Post-accident workshop Transport of radioactive substances (48) 5 October • Decision-making process • Simulatedmedia pressure EDF Blayais NPP (33) 20 and 21 October • Decision-making process • ASN inspectors dispatched to the affected site ConvEx-3 (IAEA) 26 and 27 October • Accident at an NPP in the United Arab Emirates • Coordination with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the embassy of the country affected Saint-Dizier Air Base (52) 28 and 29 October • Coordination with ASND • Recommendations for post-accident management Cherbourg Naval Base (50) 23 and 24 November • Coordination with ASND 2 176 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2021 04 – RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY AND POST-ACCIDENT SITUATIONS

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