2 ASN’s role in an emergency and post-accident situation 2.1 THE FOUR KEY DUTIES OF ASN In an emergency situation, the responsibilities of ASN, with the support of IRSN, are as follows: ∙ check the steps taken by the licensee and ensure that they are pertinent; ∙ advise the authorities on population protection measures; ∙ take part in the dissemination of information to the population and media; ∙ act as Competent Authority within the framework of the international Conventions on Early Notification and Assistance. Checking the steps taken by the licensee In the same way as in a normal situation, ASN acts as the regulatory authority in an accident situation. In this particular context, ASN ensures that the licensee exercises in full its responsibility for keeping the accident under control, mitigating the consequences, and rapidly and regularly informing the public authorities. It draws on IRSN’s expertise and assessments and can at any time ask the licensee to perform appraisals and take the necessary actions, without however taking the place of the licensee in the technical operations. Advising the département and zone Prefects and the Government The decision by the Prefect concerning the general public protection measures to be taken in radiological emergency and post-accident situations depends on the actual or foreseeable consequences of the accident around the site. The law states that it is up to ASN to make recommendations to the Prefect and the Government, incorporating the analysis carried out by IRSN. This analysis covers both a diagnosis of the situation (understanding of the situation of the installation affected, analysis of the consequences for humans and the environment) and a prognosis (assessment of possible developments, notably radioactive releases). These recommendations more specifically concern the steps to be taken to protect the population in the emergency and post-accident phases. Circulation of information ASN is involved in informing: ∙ the media and the public: publication of press releases and organisation of press conferences; it is important that this action be coordinated with the other entities required to communicate (Prefects, licensees at both local and national levels, etc.); ∙ institutional and associative stakeholders: local authorities, ministries, Prefectures, political authorities, general directorates of administrations, CLIs, etc.; ∙ foreign nuclear safety regulators. Function of Competent Authority as defined by international conventions The Environment Code provides for ASN to fulfil the role of Competent Authority under the 1986 International Conventions on Early Notification and Assistance. As such, it collates and summarises information for the purpose of sending or receiving notifications and for transmitting the information required by these Conventions to the international organisations (International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA – and European Union) and to the countries affected by the possible consequences on their own territory, jointly with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 2.2 ORGANISATION IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT The ASN emergency response organisation set up to deal with a major accident more specifically comprises: ∙ the participation of ASN staff in the various units of the CIC; ∙ the creation of a national Emergency Centre in Montrouge (Île-de-France region) organised around an emergency director and various specialised units: ‒ an “information management and coordination” unit, in charge of supporting the emergency director; ‒ a logistics unit; ‒ a “safety” unit in charge of understanding and assessing the ongoing event; ‒ a “protection of persons, the environment and property” unit, notably in charge of proposing population protection actions; ‒ an “internal and external communication” unit; ‒ an “international relations” unit; ‒ a “forward planning” unit. DIAGRAM The role of ASN in a nuclear emergency situation 2 Licensee Information of the public Information International assistance ASN inspector Media Stakeholders (CLIs, HCTISN, etc.) Structured and organised process CIC Government Prefect COD COZ ASN representatives Embassy ASN (headquarters) + Emergency Centre + Communications unit IRSN (headquarters) Technical emergency centre Oversight Inspections Requirements Population protection recommendations ASN representatives ASN representative COD: Departmental Operations Centre – COZ: Zone operations Centre – CIC: Interministerial Crisis Committee – CICNR: Interministerial Committee for Nuclear or Radiological Emergencies – CLI: Local Information Committee – HCTISN: High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Security IAEA – EU Other countries ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 175 • 04 • Radiological emergency and post-accident situations 04 05 15 08 11 14 06 07 13 AP 03 10 02 09 12 01
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