- 221 - The La Hague site The AREVA NC plant in La Hague The La Hague site is located on a plateau situated about 100 metres above sea level in the north-western tip of the Cotentin peninsula, 6 km from the La Hague cape: four facilities in which final shutdown and decommissioning of the majority of the units are either in progress or are due shortly: o the UP2-400 and AT1 units for reprocessing the spent fuel from the UNGG process and fastneutron process (BNI 33) respectively; o the STE-2 station for treating liquid effluents from the above units (BNI 38); o the ELAN II B unit for the production of caesium 137 and strontium 90 sources (BNI 47); o the HAO unit for reprocessing the first spent fuel from the enriched uranium oxide process called the "light water" process (BNI 80); three facilities in operation: o the UP3-A (BNI 116) and the UP2-800 (BNI 117) facilities for reprocessing spent fuel from the light water process; o the STE-3 station for treating liquid effluents from the above units (BNI 118); some fifty auxiliary ICPEs, mainly for storing the chemical or inflammable products used on the site. The nearest town is the Cherbourg-Octeville conglomeration situated some twenty kilometres to the eastsouth-east. It is not situated under the prevailing winds which blow essentially from the south-west or north-east. The winds can be very strong and often bring rain. The main communication routes and infrastructures follow the axis of the peninsula; the port of Cherbourg is the main maritime traffic hub. The UP2-400 plant (BNI 33) which was intended for reprocessing of the spent fuel from the UNGG process is currently basically awaiting for Final Shutdown and Decommissioning ("MAD/DEM"). Facility rinsing and cleaning operations were carried out when operational functioning stopped, to reduce the residual source term. The part of the facility that is currently waiting for final shutdown and decommissioning comprises the MAU, MAPu, HA/DE, DEGAINAGE (decladding) and HA/PF units. Among these, only the HA/PF unit is still in operation to centralise and store the rinsing solutions. This unit still contains contaminated waste and spent ion-exchange resins awaiting transfer to a treatment process channel.
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