are however required in the management of hazardous substances. The labour inspections focused on the conformity of the work equipment and the electrical installations. An initiative concerning the prevention of the risk of falling from height was also conducted. EDF must be particularly attentive to the meeting of commitments and to the compliance work on the electrical installations. Reactor A undergoing decommissioning Decommissioning of the equipment inside the reactor vessel was completed in 2021. The next step is the emptying of the reactor building pool with a view to decommissioning the reactor vessel. An evaporator is currently being installed to treat the pool water prior to discharge, with start of operation planned for the second quarter 2022. The decommissioning work on all the equipment still present in the bunkers of the “auxiliary” cavern has resumed after a long interruption due to technical problems. This work is carried out mainly by remote operation using a robotic arm. In addition to this, decommissioning of the effluent treatment station equipment that is not necessary for treating the water from the rock or floor drains is in progress. The site’s organisation with regard to fire risk management is satisfactory on the whole. In the area of radiation protection, the organisation set up for managing the risk of contamination with alpha particles seems satisfactory, even if interactions with the outside contractors can be further improved. The increase in cases of internal contamination during the second quarter of 2021 shows that the licensee must remain fully vigilant with respect to this risk. Lastly, with regard to occupational safety, the nuclear safety inspection on the theme of fire was used to verify compliance with the provisions of the Labour Code on this subject. No significant deviation was observed. Fessenheim nuclear power plant The Fessenheim NPP comprises two PWRs, each with a unit power of 900 MWe. It is situated 1.5 km from the german border and about 30 km from Switzerland. The two reactors, which were commissioned in 1977 and def initively shut down in 2020, are currently undergoing preparation for decommissioning. ASN considers that the site has maintained a robust level of seriousness and vigour in the monitoring of operation of the facilities, despite the signif icant reduction in the operating and maintenance activities compared with the period when it was in production. The year 2021 was thus primarily taken up by the continuation of the decommissioning preparation activities, such as the preparation of the decontamination activity files, installation of new effluent treatment capacities, removal of a large number of spare parts and the work to develop new organisational baseline requirements for the site, such as the emergency plans. The site has moreover undertaken an effective drive to remove the legacy waste from the site, along with chemical products that are no longer necessary. These activities are proceeding satisfactorily, in accordance with the submitted schedules. Major milestones have been reached, such as the f inalising of removal of the fuel from reactor 1, and the f irst shipping of upper sections of the old steam generators, for decontamination and recycling by a melting process in the Cyclife facilities in Sweden. Several major work sites will be continuing in 2022, notably with removal of the fuel from the second reactor, the decontamination of the primary systems of the two reactors and the creation in the turbine hall of the facility for managing the waste resulting from the decommissioning. With regard to radiation protection, despite confirmation of the improvement in the prevention of contamination of the site road systems and a strongly downward trend in the overall dosimetry of the works carried out in the facilities, vigilance must be maintained given the occurrence of several events revealing a lack of precautions by certain workers with respect to the conditions for leaving controlled areas, for marking out controlled areas, or individual dosimetry. Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power plant Operated by EDF and situated in the municipality of Nogentsur‑Seine in the Aube département, 70 km north‑west of Troyes, the Nogent‑sur‑Seine NPP comprises two PWRs each of 1,300 MWe, commissioned in 1987 and 1988. Reactor 1 constitutes BNI 129 and reactor 2 BNI 130. ASN considers that the performance of the Nogent-surSeine NPP is in line with its general assessment of the EDF plants in the areas of nuclear safety and the environment. This assessment also concerns the areas of radiation protection, but with a reservation on account of a number of improvements that are required. ASN notes that the licensee has progressed in the area of nuclear safety, particularly in its mastery of the reactor operating technical specifications. ASN nevertheless considers that this progress remains fragile and that EDF must continue its efforts to further improve the rigour of operation of the reactors. Some significant events still reveal shortcomings in staff training and in the monitoring of the facilities. Specific action must also be taken to restore an adequate headcount in the independent safety organisation. With regard to maintenance, ASN considers the situation satisfactory on the whole, even if the preparation of activities, ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2021 61 REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION GRAND EST
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