On 31 March 2022 at 8h, as a result of several intruders penetrating the perimeter of the Reinforced Protected Area (ZPR) of EDF’s Flamanville NPP in the Manche département (50), the on-call team was activated in the Montrouge Emergency Centre, to check with the licensee there were no safety consequences for the installations. On 21 September 2022, ASN was informed of an outbreak of fire in a room containing radioactive materials in Framatome’s facility at Romans-sur-Isère in the Drôme département (26). ASN activated its Emergency Centre to monitor the development of the situation and the steps taken by the licensee, and to advise the Prefect of the la Drôme département, who was in charge of the operations. The Emergency Centre was deactivated in the evening after verification that there had been no radioactive releases and that no radioactive material was in fact involved in the fire. On 6 October 2022 at 9h21, EDF’s Cattenom NPP triggered its PUI after the presence of ammonia was detected in a room on the site. ASN then followed the development of the situation from the Emergency Centre. After the leak was located and stopped by the site teams, the ASN teams were able to leave the Emergency Centre, after first ensuring that this event had no environmental consequences. The ASN emergency response organisation was also partially activated on several occasions in 2022. On 6 February 2022 at 12h15, ASN was informed of an outbreak of fire in a room outside the nuclear zone of the EDF plant at Cruas-Meysse (07). The on-call team was activated in order to monitor the development of the situation and prepare to activate the Emergency Centre if necessary. On 23 November 2022 at 11h36, the Gravelines NPP (59) activated its PUI for a fire outside the controlled area, following a release of smoke being observed on a pump. The contacts between ASN and EDF led to the alert being rapidly cleared, as the release of smoke immediately stopped when this pump was shut down. The PUI was thus lifted at 12h30 with the approval of ASN. During exercises, or in the event of a real emergency, ASN is supported by a team of analysts working in IRSN’s Technical Emergency Centre. ASN’s alert system allows mobilisation of its Emergency Centre staff and those of the IRSN. This automatic system sends an alert signal to the staff equipped with appropriate reception devices, as soon as it is remotely triggered by the BNI licensee originating the alert. It also sends the alert to the staff of the SGDSN, the General Directorate for Civil Security and Emergency Management (DGSCGC), the Interministerial Emergency Management Operations Centre, Météo-France and the Ministerial operational monitoring and alert centre (CMVOA) of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Regional Cohesion. A radiological emergency toll-free number also enables ASN to receive calls reporting events involving sources of ionising radiation used outside BNIs or during the transport of radioactive substances. It is accessible 24/7. This number is reserved for companies holding a licence to possess radioactive sources issued by ASN in accordance with the Public Health Code and for companies transporting radioactive materials. Depending on the severity of the event, ASN may activate its Montrouge Emergency Centre by triggering the alert system. If not, only the ASN local level (regional division concerned) intervenes to perform its Prefect support and communication duties, if necessary calling on the expertise of the national departments. In order to enhance the graded nature of the ASN response and organisation in the event of an emergency, for situations not warranting activation of the Emergency Centre, the on-call team provides assistance to support the regional division concerned. Since 2018, an on-call duty system reinforces the robustness and the mobilisation and intervention reactivity of the ASN staff. Diagram 2 (see previous page) summarises the role of ASN in a nuclear emergency situation. This functional diagram illustrates the importance of the ASN representative to the Prefect, who relays and explains the recommendations coming from the ASN Emergency Centre. ASN EMERGENCY CENTRE: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL In 2022, five events led to activation of the ASN Emergency Centre. On 4 and 10 March, to manage the Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia NPP in Ukraine and the total loss of electrical power to the Chernobyl site, on 31 March to deal with the intrusion by Greenpeace militants on EDF’s Flamanville site in the Manche département (50), on 21 September for an outbreak of fire in a room containing radioactive material in the Framatone facility at Romans-sur-Isère in the Drôme département (26) and finally, on 6 October after the presence of ammonia was detected in a room on EDF’s Cattenom site in the Moselle département (57). By means of its secure and redundant equipment in its Emergency Centre in Montrouge, the ASN teams were able to monitor the development of the situations, assess the potential consequences, and remain in permanent contact with the stakeholders (IRSN, Prefectures, licensees, etc.). To ensure that it is operational 24/7, the ASN Emergency Centre receives particular attention: periodic tests, documentary review, lessons learned from each emergency. In 2022, a new day-book supplements the arsenal of the tools already operational. 176 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 • 04 • Radiological emergency and post-accident situations 04
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