Les cahiers de l'ASN #03 - 10 years after Fukushima

T he Fukushima accident led to environmental releases lasting three weeks. Until then, the Codirpa* had worked on the assumption of a short-duration, low-intensity release. It thus chose to work on the hypothesis of a large-scale, long-duration release, more similar to what happened in Fukushima. This had consequences for numerous aspects of post-accident management , such as the sizing of population protection zones for example. As a result of this work, the Codirpa proposed changes to post-accident doctrine in 2019, and these have now been accepted by the Government. Determining decontamination and waste management strategies following an accident The Japanese authorities decided to carry out very large-scale environmental decontamination work. The consequence of these operations was to generate a large volume of radioactive waste, with widely varying levels of contamination, and a strategy for managing this waste had to be gradually implemented. Decontamination and waste management are closely interlinked. The Codirpa thus set up a new working group tasked with defining an overall strategy for this challenge. Managing the consequences for aquatic environments The Fukushima accident triggered considerable radioactive releases into the marine environment, with consequences for fishing and nautical leisure activities. Managing the consequences of a nuclear accident on aquatic environments CRISIS AND POST-ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT IN FRANCE Anticipating the consequences of a nuclear accident On the assumption that an accident leading to radioactive releases is possible in France or elsewhere in Europe, ASN set up in 2005 the nuclear steering committee for managing the nuclear post-accident phase (Codirpa*) which in 2012 published the first aspects of its doctrine. In the wake of the Fukushima accident, French doctrine was modified in 2019. Review of the situation. * See glossary page 24 Relocation area Trade restriction area Area with restriction on the consumption of (locally produced) foodstuffs 20 • Les cahiers de l’ASN • March 2021