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In conjunction with the experience feedback from the
Fukushima Daiichi accident, a newworking group was
set up in 2015 on waste management in a post-accident
situation, involving members of the Codirpa and of the
National Radioactive Materials andWaste Management
Plan (PNGMDR). Furthermore, subjects for whichmore
detailed examination of doctrine is to be carried out
in 2016 have already been identified. These mainly
concern the management of manufactured products,
management of water and marine environments, and
radiological measurements in a post-accident situation.
The report from the pluralistic seminar on the economic
assessment of a nuclear accident risk organised by ASN
inOctober 2014was released in 2015. ASN initiated the
necessary steps to promote the development of research
on this subject, nationally and internationally.
2. ACTING IN EMERGENCY
AND POST-ACCIDENT SITUATIONS
The emergency plans require intervention by many
players, whose respective roles and duties must be
clearly identified, asmust the way they interact, to ensure
correct coordination of their actions. The organisation
of each of the players involved in the State’s response to
a radiological emergency situation, and the way they
interact, are essential to the correct management of this
type of situation. The roles and organisation of ASN in
an emergency situation are thus precisely defined. The
coordination with the international authorities is also
essential, both bilaterally and internationally.
2.1 Performing all duties
in an emergency situation
Owing to their scale, major emergencies require the
deployment of a global response by the State, whichmore
specifically involves the departments of the PrimeMinister
(SGDSN) and the various ministries, in particular the
Interior Ministry with responsibility for civil protection.
At the local level, the Prefect thus acts as the director of
emergency response operations. The
“Major nuclear or
radiological accident”
national response Planwas published
in February 2014 and addresses emergency situations
of all types, covering the entire country, and describes
the organisations to be put into place.
2.1.1 ASN roles and duties
In an emergency situation, the responsibilities of ASN,
with the support of IRSN, are as follows:
•
to check the steps taken by the licensee and ensure
that they are pertinent;
•
to advise the Government and its local representatives;
•
to contribute to the dissemination of information;
•
to act as Competent Authority within the framework
of the international Conventions on Early Notification
and Assistance.
Checking the measures taken by the licensee
As in a normal situation, ASN exercises its roles as the
regulatory authority in an accident situation. In this
particular context, ASNensures that the licensee exercises
in full its responsibility for keeping the accident under
control, mitigating the consequences, and rapidly and
regularly informing the public authorities. On the basis of
IRSN’s assessments, ASN can at any time ask the licensee
to perform assessments and take the necessary actions,
without substituting itself for the licensee in the technical
operations.
Advising the Government and the Prefect
The decision by the Prefect concerning the general public
protectivemeasures to be taken in radiological emergency
and post-accident situations depends on the actual or
foreseeable consequences of the accident around the
site. It is up to ASN to make recommendations to the
Government and the Prefect, incorporating the analysis
carriedout by IRSN. This analysis covers a diagnosis of the
situation (understanding of the situationof the installation
affected, consequences forman and the environment) and
a prognosis (assessment of possible developments, notably
radioactive releases). This advice also concerns the steps
to be taken to protect the health of the general public.
Circulation of information
ASN is involved in a number of ways in informing:
•
themedia and the public: ASNcontributes to informing
the media, the general public and the stakeholders in
different ways (press releases, press conferences). It is
important that this should be done in close collaboration
with the other entities which are themselves involved in
communication (Prefect, local andnational licensee, etc.);
•
institutional entities: ASN keeps the Government
informed, along with the SGDSN, which is responsible
for informing the President of the Republic and the
Prime Minister;
•
foreign nuclear safety Regulators.
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CHAPTER 05:
RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY AND POST-ACCIDENT SITUATIONS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015