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the safety culture within the facility. The audit work
carried out by Areva so far has proven to be insufficient.
5. OUTLOOK
In 2016, ASN actions in the field of the oversight of
NPPs will more specifically concern the following topics.
The periodic safety reviews
In 2016, ASN will issue a position statement on the
orientations of the fourth periodic safety review for
the 900 MWe reactors. In 2016, this step will enable
the examination of the generic phase of this review to
start, in parallel with the second periodic safety review
of the 1,450 MWe reactors.
Monitoring the implementation of the material and
documentary modifications resulting from this third
ten-yearly outage inspection on the 1,300 MWe reactors,
more particularly during the ten-yearly inspection of the
Paluel 2 reactor, which should be completed in 2016,
remains a particular challenge, given their scope and
their nature, at a time of significant turnover between
generations of staff.
Experience feedback from the Fukushima Daiichi
accident
Monitoring the implementation of the prescribedmaterial
and organisational measures enabling EDF to justify
satisfactory control of the basic safety functions in extreme
situations remains a priority for ASN.
In 2016, ASNwill pay particular attention to examining
the design, construction and operating provisions adopted
by EDF to address the prescriptions concerning the
“hardened safety core”. This will be an opportunity to
examine the natural hazard levels used in the design of
the “hardened safety core”. The modification notification
files for the facilities, concerning the installation of an
additional electricity generating set on each reactor
and a new emergency centre for each site will also be
examined and the initial site deployment work will
be inspected.
Oversight of the EPR reactor
In addition to the review of the detailed design of the
Flamanville 3 EPR reactor, ASN is actively involved
in checking the construction work and preparation
for the start-up tests of this reactor on the site, in the
engineering centres and at the EDF suppliers. The
nuclear safety inspectors will continue with inspections
at a sustained rate. 2016 will also see the continued
review of the commissioning authorisation application
for this reactor. The review of this application will
entail an ASN verification that the requirements of the
Flamanville 3 Creation Authorisation Decree and the
additional prescriptions it has issued are taken into
account. ASN will also continue with the conformity
assessments of the nuclear pressure equipment most
important for safety.
Deviation handling
Operating experience feedback from the NPP reactors
reveals that there are still inadequacies in the processes
employed by the licensee to obtain conformity of the
facilities with their design and operating baseline
requirements and then maintain this compliance over
the long term. It also highlights weaknesses in the design
of modifications and of their operating documents.
Some of the conformity deviations are discovered during
equipment verifications as part of the periodic checks
or spot checks. On the occasion of the fourth periodic
safety review of the 900 MWe reactors, ASNwill ensure
that design reviews are developed to complete the latent
conformity deviations detection process.
Adaptation to the provisions of the Energy
Transition for Green Growth Act
The TECV Act introduces new public consultation
obligations on the occasion of the periodic safety reviews
after the 35th year of operation of an NPP reactor. ASN
will adapt its processes to take account of these new
provisions in its preparations for the fourth periodic
safety review of the 900 MWe reactors.
Experience feedback concerning nuclear pressure
equipment regulations
In 2016, ASN will continue with the in-depth work
it has begun with the manufacturers, operators and
organisations it approves, with regard to the drafting
of professional baseline requirements and conformity
assessment baseline requirements. These baseline
requirements will make it easier to demonstrate and
assess nuclear pressure equipment conformity with
the regulations.
ASN will also continue its operating experience
feedback approach with regard to nuclear pressure
equipment regulations as part of the process to codify
in the Environment Code the provisions concerning
in-service monitoring of products and equipment with
a potential risk.
The organisation of the nuclear
sector stakeholders
In 2015, EDF reorganised its departments in charge of
engineering and the production of electricity generated by
nuclear power. ASNwill ensure that this new organisation
is able to address safety issues correctly and promotes
communication and cooperation between all the EDF
departments concerned by these issues.
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CHAPTER 12:
EDF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS (NPPs)
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015