1 Radioactive waste Pursuant to the provisions of the Environment Code, the producers of spent fuel and radioactive waste are responsible for these substances, without prejudice to the liability of those who hold these substances in their role as persons or entities responsible for nuclear activities. Radioactive waste must be managed in accordance with specific procedures. Waste producers must pursue the objective of minimising the volume and harmfulness of their waste, both before production by appropriate design and operation of the facilities, and after production by appropriate sorting, treatment and packaging. The types of radioactive waste differ widely in their radioactivity (specific activity, nature of the radiation, half-life) and their form (scrap metal, rubble, oils, etc.). Two main parameters can be used to assess the radiological risk that radioactive waste represents: firstly the activity, which contributes to the toxicity of the waste, and secondly the halflife of the radionuclides present in the waste which determines the required waste containment time. A distinction is therefore made between very low, low, intermediate and high-level waste on the one hand and, on the other hand, very short-lived waste (whose activity level is halved in less than 100 days) resulting mainly from medical activities, short-lived waste (chiefly containing radionuclides whose activity level is halved in less than 31 years) and long-lived waste (which contains a large quantity of radionuclides whose activity level is halved in more than 31 years). Each type of waste requires the implementation of an appropriate and safe management solution in order to control the risks it represents, particularly the radiological risk but also risks linked to its chemical composition. 1.1 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MINING TAILINGS AND WASTE ROCK) Defined in Article L. 542‑1‑1 of the Environment Code, the management of radioactive waste comprises all the activities associated with the handling, preliminary treatment, treatment, packaging, storage and disposal of radioactive waste, excluding off-site transportation. ASN oversees the activities associated with the management of radioactive waste from BNIs or small-scale nuclear activities, other than those linked to national defence which are overseen by the Defence Nuclear Safety Authority (ASND) and those relative to Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment (ICPEs), which are placed under the oversight of the Prefects. 1.1.1 Management of radioactive waste in Basic Nuclear Installations Two economic sectors are the major contributors to the production of radioactive waste in BNIs. The nuclear power sector for its part comprises the 18 Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) operated by EDF, and the plants dedicated to the fabrication and reprocessing of nuclear fuel operated by Orano and Framatome. Operation of the NPPs generates spent fuel, part of which is reprocessed to separate the recyclable substances from the fission products or minor actinides which are waste. Radioactive waste is also produced during the operational and maintenance activities in the NPPs and the fuel reprocessing plants, like the structural waste, the hulls and end-pieces constituting the nuclear fuel cladding, and the technological waste, and the waste from the treatment of effluents such as bituminised sludge. Furthermore, decommissioning of the facilities produces a large volume of radioactive waste. This chapter presents the role and actions of ASN, the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), in the management of radioactive waste and the management of sites and soils contaminated by radioactive substances. It describes in particular the actions taken to define and set the broad guidelines for radioactive waste management. According to the Environment Code, radioactive wastes are radioactive substances for which no subsequent use is planned or envisaged or which have been reclassified as such by the Minister responsible for energy. The waste comes from activities involving artificial or natural radioactive substances (nuclear installations, the medical or research sectors, contaminated sites and soils, etc.). ASN has competence for the management of contaminated sites and soils linked to the Basic Nuclear Installations (BNIs). For the other radiological contamination situations, ASN may, at the request of the competent authorities, issue an opinion regarding their management procedures. ASN notably ensures that the waste resulting from contaminated site clean-up operations is directed to appropriate management routes. As part of its oversight of the decommissioning and waste management strategies implemented by the major licensees, ASN in 2023 continued its monitoring of the strategies used by the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and Orano. Finally, in 2023, ASN initiated its review of the Creation Authorisation Decree (DAC) application for Cigéo, the geological disposal project for the most highly radioactive waste, submitted on 16 January 2023 by the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra). 15 368 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 • 15 • Radioactive waste and contaminated sites and soils
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