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Fuel cycle installations
Areva NP (formerly FBFC) - Nuclear fuel fabrication plants
in Romans-sur-Isère
In 2015, Areva NP continued its actions to improve the
safety of the two facilities in the context of increased ASN
scrutiny of the site since 2014. Areva hasmet themajority
of the initial deadlines set in the safety improvement
action plan it presented to ASN.
Thework to consolidate the facilities has begun, but several
major upgrades have not yet been completed. This is why,
through a resolution of 8th January 2015, ASN required
that some facilities be brought into compliance or, failing
this, the radioactive substances be removed. In this same
resolution, ASN set Areva NP additional requirements
concerning the “hardened safety core”and emergency
situationmanagement resulting from the lessons learned
from the Fukushima Daiichi accident.
ASNhas also started examining the periodic safety review
file of BNI 98whichwas completed in January 2015. The
periodic safety review report for BNI 63 was submitted
at the end of 2015. Once ASN has finished examining
these reports it will state its position on the continued
operation of these installations.
As part of the follow-ups to the in-depth inspection
of safety management and operating rigour which it
coordinated in 2014, ASNnoted the first improvements
in operating rigour.
On the environmental front, in its resolutionof 4thFebruary
2014, ASNhadgivenArevaNP formal notice and18months
to bring the effluent treatment plant retention structure
into conformity by summer 2015. At the endof July 2015,
ASN observed the compliance work had effectively been
carried out and deemed that Areva NP had satisfied the
conditions of the resolution.
ASN considers it vital for Areva NP to improve its
management of nuclear waste routes. ASN nevertheless
notes with approval the work to repair the stormwater
drainage system and build a new storm-water tank.
In viewof all these elements, ASNwill maintainheightened
vigilance over the Areva NP Romans-sur-Isère site in
2016. ASNwill more specifically check that the licensee
continues to implement the improvement actions towhich
it has committed itself.
Nuclear fuel cycle plants situated on the Tricastin
industrial platform
In 2015 Areva continued to deploy pooled organisational
structures in the areas of logistics, laboratories, utilities,
effluents, waste and safety, security, radiation protection
and the environment on the Tricastin platform.
ASN endeavoured to ensure that these mutualisation
measures did not lead to any disorganisation, even
temporary, in the activities important for protection. More
specifically, on 21st and 22nd October 2015, it carried
out unannounced inspections of senior management
and all the site installations on the theme of radiation
protection. It observed that the site’s radiation protection
department had defined a baseline of rules applicable
to the five installations, but that the licensees had to
continue their efforts to implement them.
At the end of 2014, Areva also proposed to ASN the
implementation of an on-site emergency plan based on
an organisation common to the platform. ASN judged
this proposal inadmissible because it did not enable the
licensees to fully maintain their prime responsibility as
nuclear licensees, particularly in an emergency situation.
A newproposal fromAreva is currently being examined.
Areva NC - TU5 and W plants in Pierrelatte
ASN considers that the facilities situated within the
perimeter of BNI 155 of Areva NC are operated with a
level of safety that is relatively satisfactory. The licensee
must nevertheless continue tomake progress in operating
LYON DIVISION
ASN inspection of the Areva NP (formely FBFC) site, Romans-sur-Isère plant, October 2015.
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CHAPTER 08 :
REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015