Gammatec ioniser The Gammatec ioniser (BNI 170) is an industrial irradiator operated by the company Stéris since 2013. Gammatec treats products by ionisation (emission of gamma radiation), with the aim of sterilising them or improving the performance of the materials. The installation consists of an industrial bunker and an experimental bunker. Both bunkers contain sealed sources of cobalt-60, which provide the radiation necessary for the facility’s activity. ASN considers that the level of safety of the instrumentation and control system and radiation protection are satisfactory on the whole in 2021. The licensee must remain attentive to the formalisation of the periodic inspection and test results and the currency of the personnel authorisations to enter the experimental bunker. Écrin facility The Écrin facility (BNI 175) is situated in the municipality of Narbonne in the Aude département, within the Malvési site operated by Orano, which represents the first step of the “fuel cycle” (excluding extraction of the ores). The transformation process produces liquid effluents containing nitrated sludge loaded with natural uranium. The entire plant is subject to the system governing Seveso high-threshold Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment (ICPEs). The Écrin BNI consist of two storage basins (B1 and B2) containing the legacy sludge from the plant. These two basins have BNI classif ication, due to the presence of traces of artificial radioisotopes. This BNI was authorised by Decree of 20 July 2015 for the storage of radioactive waste, for a period of 30 years. The Ecrin facility was commissioned by ASN resolution 2018‑DC-0645 of 12 October 2018. This authorisation enabled the licensee to start the work def ined in the DAC, which it effectively began in February 2019. The activities continued in 2021 with the installation of a bituminous cover over the entire BNI apart from PERLE (“Project for reversible storage of lagoons”), which is a cell dug in the Écrin BNI to the south of basin B2 and allowing the storage of materials emptied from basins B5 and B6. The activities on this cell are still in progress. An unannounced inspection was held in May 2021. ASN has noted that the sludge transfer work is well organised and considers that the activities are carried out satisfactorily. On 12 February 2021, in application of Article 7 of the Decree of 20 July 2015, the licensee submitted the progress report for the 2015‑2020 studies and investigations conducted to assess the feasibility of the disposal options for the waste currently stored within Écrin. ASN considers that the level of safety and environmental protection remains satisfactory in view of the risks the facility presents. 88 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2021 REGIONAL OVERVIEWOF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION
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