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radiation present in the facilities. These elements are the
“source term”.
The estimate ismade in relation to one ormore identified
reference groups. These are uniform groups of people
(adults, infants, children) receiving the highest average
dose out of the entire population exposed to a given
installation, following realistic scenarios (taking into
account the distance from the site, meteorological data,
etc.). All of these parameters, specific to each site, explain
most of the differences observed between sites and from
one year to another.
For each of the nuclear sites presented, the radiological
impact remains far below, or atmost 1%of the limit for the
public (1mSvper year). Therefore inFrance, thedischarges
producedby the nuclear industry have an extremely small
radiological impact.
4.1.3 Monitoring imposed by the European Union
Article35of theEURATOMTreaty requires that theMember
States establish the facilities needed to carryout continuous
monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and
soil and to ensure compliance with the basic standards of
healthprotection for the general public andworkers against
thehazards of ionising radiation. AllMember States,whether
or not they have nuclear facilities, are therefore required
to implement environmental monitoring arrangements
throughout their territory.
By virtue of the provisions of this same Article 35, the
European Commission also has the right to access these
monitoring facilities, in order to check their operation
and effectiveness. During its verifications, the European
Commission gives anopinionon themeans implemented
by the member states to monitor radioactive discharges
into the environment and the levels of radioactivity in the
environment around nuclear sites and over the national
territory.
It gives its assessment of the monitoring equipment and
methodologies used, and of the organisational setup.
Since 1994, theCommissionhas carriedout the following
inspections:
•
the La Hague reprocessing plant and Andra’s Manche
repository in 1996;
•
Chooz NPP in 1999;
•
Belleville-sur-Loire NPP in 1994 and 2003;
•
the La Hague reprocessing plant in 2005;
•
the Pierrelatte nuclear site in 2008;
•
the old uranium mines in the Limousin
département
in 2010;
•
the CEA site at Cadarache in 2011.
4.2 Environmental monitoring
In France, many parties are involved in environmental
radioactivity monitoring:
•
the nuclear facility licensees, who performmonitoring
around their sites;
•
ASN, IRSN(whose roles definedbyDecree 2002-254 of
22ndFebruary2002 includeparticipation in radiological
monitoring of the environment), theMinistries (General
Directorate for Health (DGS), General Directorate for
Food (DGAL),GeneralDirectorate forCompetitionPolicy,
Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF, etc.),
the State services and other public players performing
monitoring duties nationwide or in particular sectors
(foodstuffs for example, monitored by the Ministry
responsible for Agriculture);
•
the approved air qualitymonitoring associations (local
authorities), environmental protection associations and
the CLIs.
The French National Network for environmental
radioactivityMonitoring (RNM) brings all these players
together. Its primary aim is to collate andmake available to
the public all the regulatory environmental measurements
taken on French territory, bymeans of a dedicatedwebsite
www.mesure-radioactivité.fr.
The quality of these
measurements is guaranteed by subjecting themeasuring
laboratories to an approval procedure.
4.2.1 The purpose of environmental monitoring
The licensees are responsible for monitoring the
environment around their facilities. The content of the
monitoring programmes to be implemented in this respect
(measurements to be taken and frequency) is defined
in ASN resolution 2013-DC-0360 of 16th July 2013
concerning the control of detrimental effects and the impact
onhealth and the environment of basic nuclear installations
and in the individual prescriptions applicable to each
installation (Creation Authorisation Decree, discharge
licensing orders or ASN resolutions), independently of
the additional measures that can be taken by the licensees
for the purposes of their own monitoring.
This environmental monitoring:
•
helps gives a picture of the radiological and radio-
ecological state of the facility’s environment through
measurement of parameters and substances regulated
by the prescriptions, in the various compartments of the
environment (air, water, soil) as well as in the various
biotopes and the food chain (milk, vegetables, etc.): a
zero reference point is identified before the creation of
the facility and environmental monitoring throughout
the life of the facility enables any changes to be tracked;
•
helps verify that the impact of the facility on health
and the environment is in conformity with the impact
assessment;
•
detects any abnormal increase in radioactivity as early
as possible;
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CHAPTER 04:
REGULATION OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES AND EXPOSURE TO IONISING RADIATION
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015