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The choice of the means of discharge (liquid or gaseous)
is part of amore general approach aimed atmitigating the
overall impact of the installation.
ASN makes sure that the BNI creation authorisation
application explains the licensee’s choices, in particular
the reduction at source measures, the decisions taken
betweenconfinement, treatment or dispersal of substances,
based on safety and radiation protection considerations.
The optimisation efforts encouragedby the authorities and
made by the licensees have - for “equivalent operation” -
resulted in these emissions being constantly reduced. ASN
hopes that setting discharge limit values will encourage
the licensees tomaintain their discharge optimisation and
management efforts. It ensures that discharges are kept
to the minimum possible by using the best techniques
available, and has undertaken a revision of the discharge
limits in recent years.
The impact of BNI chemical discharges
The substances discharged can have an impact on the
environment and the population owing to their chemical
characteristics.
ASN considers that BNI discharges should be regulated
in the same way as those of other industrial facilities. The
TSNAct of 13th June 2006, codified inBooks I andVof the
Environment Code, andmore broadly the general technical
regulations concerning discharges and the environment,
take this question into account. This integrated approach
is little used abroad, where chemical discharges are often
regulated by an Authority different from that in charge of
radiological issues.
ASN wants the impact of chemical discharges on the
populations and the environment to be as lowas possible,
in the same way as for radioactive substances.
The impact of thermal discharges from BNIs
Some BNIs, especially nuclear power plants, discharge
coolingwater intowatercourses or the sea, either directly
or after cooling in cooling towers. Thermal releases lead
to a temperature rise in the receiving environment of up
to several degrees.
The regulatory limits aim to prevent a modification of
the receiving environment, in particular fish life, and to
ensure acceptable health conditions if water is taken for
human consumption downstream. These limits can thus
differ according to the environment and the technical
characteristics of each installation.
3.4.5 Prevention of accidental pollution
The BNI Order of 7th February 2012 andASN resolution
2013-DC-0360 of 16th July 2013 concerning the control
of detrimental effects and the health and environmental
impact of BNIs, impose obligations designed toprevent, or
in the event of an accident, tominimise direct or indirect
discharges of toxic, radioactive, flammable, corrosive or
explosive liquids into the sewer systems or the environment.
3.5 Requirements
concerning radioactive waste
and decommissioning
3.5.1 Management of BNI radioactive waste
The management of waste, whether or not radioactive,
in the BNIs is regulated by ASN, notably to prevent and
minimise – in particular at source – the production and
harmfulness of the waste, more specifically by means of
requirementsconcerningthedesign,classification,treatment
and packaging.
In order to performthis regulation, ASNmore specifically
relies on a number of documents produced by the BNI
licensees:
•
the impact assessment, which is part of the creation
authorisation application as described in Article 8 of
the BNI Procedures Decree of 2nd November 2007;
•
the waste management study, which is part of the
commissioning authorisation application as described in
Article20of theBNI ProceduresDecree of 2ndNovember
2007, the contents of which are specified in Article 6.4
of the BNI Order of 7th February 2012. This study in
particular includes an analysis of thewaste produced or
to be produced in the facility and the steps taken by the
licensee to manage it, as well as the waste zoning plan;
•
the waste summary specified in Article 6.6 of the BNI
Order of 7thFebruary2012. This summary aims toverify
that waste management complies with the provisions
of the waste management study and to identify areas
for improvement.
ASN resolution 2015-DC-0508 of 21st April 2015
concerningthestudyofwastemanagementandtheinventory
of waste produced in the BNIs specifies the requirements
concerning these documents and the operational waste
management procedures.
3.5.2 Decommissioning
The legal framework for BNI decommissioning, inparticular
the modifications made by the TECV Act, are described
in detail in chapter 15.
The final shutdown of a BNI is the responsibility of the
licensee, who must notify the Minister responsible for
Nuclear Safety and ASN no later than two years prior to
final shutdown (this period may be shorter if so justified
by the licensee). As of that date, the licensee is no longer
authorised to operate its facility, which is considered
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CHAPTER 03:
REGULATIONS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015