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T
he Act of 13th june 2006 (“TSN Act”)
relative to transparency and security
in the nuclear field considerably tightened the requirement for transparency and
the right to information regarding nuclearmatters. It defines transparency in the
nuclear field as
“the set of provisions adopted to ensure the public’s right to reliable and
accessible information on nuclear security”
(Article L.125-12 of the Environment
Code, formerly Article 1 of the TSN Act).
The Energy Transition for Green Growth Act (TECV) of 17th August 2015 takes even
further the provisions regarding transparency. This act explicitly sets out the role of ASN in
producing its annual Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France.
The Act also includes a set of provisions relating to the Local Information Committees (CLI)
of the Basic Nuclear Installations (BNI). It provides for the CLIs to organise at least one
meeting each year that is open to the public and that those CLIs situated in
départements
located on national borders include representatives of the neighbouring countries.
For many years now ASN has been developing the culture of risk in the areas of activity it
regulates. This is witnessed for example by the post-accident procedure developed under
the Codirpa (Steering Committee for Managing the Post-accident Phase of a nuclear accident
or radiological emergency situation), heightening awareness on the control of doses in the
medical field or managing the risks associated with gamma radiography, which involve the
stakeholders at different levels.
ASNwill continue this effort, more specifically through the 2016 campaign for distributing
iodine tablets to the populations living in the vicinity of nuclear power plants, through the
ASN/IRSN road show and through the initiatives of openness to civil society in collaboration
with the CLIs.
This is a citizen-centric approach, because ultimately the individual citizens are responsible
for taking measures to protect themselves against the risks according to their analysis of the
situation, the information received, the credibility they assign to the prescribers and their
(the citizens) level of preparedness.
To improve its actions, ASN uses the results of its annual barometer which enables it to
adapt its information policy to its various audiences. In 2015, 85% of the professionals
questioned knew of ASN – a figure very similar to that for 2014 – and 59% of them said
they were satisfied with the way in which ASN informs them.
ASN maintains regular relations with the nuclear licensees, develops relations with the
users of ionising radiation in the industrial and health sectors and contributes to keeping
them well informed.
In 2015 ASN implemented proactive communication efforts targeting the media and the
institutional audiences, particularly the local elected officials.
Each year at national level ASNpresents its Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation
protection in France to Parliament and develops its relations with themembers of parliament.
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CHAPTER 06:
FROM INFORMATION TO TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015