High activity laboratory Saclay Installation: 18 laboratories (called “cells”) make up the High Activity Laboratory (LHA) on the Saclay site (Essonne département). Performance of research work or production of various radionuclides. Licensee: CEA Commissioned: 1954 Final shutdown: 1996 Decommissioning phases n Decommissioning of the laboratories has been authorised since 2008. n The licensee has removed radioactive processes and equipment present in all the cells (except for the shielded line* in cell 10). Some cells have been completely cleaned-out and downgraded. n In 2022, ASN will review the file applying for a modification of the decommissioning decree. This file was submitted by the LHA licensee following the 2017 discovery of significant soil pollution between certain cells. n CEA envisages completing the decommissioning and clean-out operations by the 2040 time-frame. n Three laboratories still in operation should remain, but under the installations classified for protection of the environment (ICPEs*) system. After clean-out, some cells will be kept for the storage of certain equipment and drums of intermediate level, long‑lived waste (ILW-LL). Decommissioning challenges The licensee must clean-out the soils to depths ranging from 1 to 10 m, under containment, with excavations close to the cells, but without destabilising their foundations. * See glossary page 30 20 • Les cahiers de l’ASN • June 2022 BNIs BEING DECOMMISSIONED
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