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BNIs but whichhave not been completely dismantleddue
to the absence of a disposal route for low-level long-lived
waste. Their delicensing in the 1980’s from BNI status to
ICPE status, in compliance with the regulations of that
time, would not be possible today.
High-Activity Laboratory (LHA)
The LHA comprises three buildings housing several
laboratories which were intended for research into or
the production of various radionuclides. On completion
of the decommissioning and clean-out work authorised
byDecree of 18th September 2008, only two laboratories
currently inoperation shouldultimately remainunder the
ICPE system. These two laboratories are the laboratory for
the chemical and radiological characterisation of effluents
and waste, and the packaging and storage facility for the
recovery of sources that are surplus to requirements.
The decommissioning of the cells, tanks and liners present
in the intercell yards of the BNI continued in2014. After a
preparatoryphase,decommissioningoftheTOTEMshielded
chain, whichwas stopped in2012, started again. The first
operations to clean out the civil engineering structures of
the decommissioned cells started in 2015.
ASN considers that the safety of BNI 49 undergoing
decommissioning remains satisfactory and notes that the
decommissioning operations are proceeding according
to the schedules. The commitments made further to the
inspections and significant events arewellmet on thewhole.
Nevertheless, the inspections carriedout in2015 revealed
shortcomings in the management of decommissioning
waste movements and storage areas, which led to the
notification of several significant events.
More generally, themajorityof event notificationsweremade
further to an ASN inspection, which tends to show that
the deviation detection and analysis process, particularly
concerning the results of inspections and periodic tests,
is not robust.
The cell clean-out operations will continue in 2016.
The level of subcontracting is particularly high on this
BNI. Control of the operations performed by outside
contractors is an important issue. In this context and
in view of observed deviations, ASN considers that
CEA must not simply question the organisation and
resources of these contractors, but also question its
own organisation and means deployed to control the
services of its subcontractors.
Ulysse reactor
Ulyssewas the first French university reactor. The facility
has beendefinitively shut down since February 2007. The
facility has had no fuel since 2008. The final shutdown
and decommissioning authorisation decree for the BNI
was published on 18th August 2014 and provides for a
five-year decommissioning period.
BNI 18 is an installation whose decommissioning has
just started and for which the risks with regard to safety
are limited.
The installation is ageing and modifications have been
introduced toallowits futuredecommissioning (appropriate
ventilation, specific electrical switchboard, procurement
of gantry, etc.). Unnecessary items have been removed
(batteries, documentation, etc.). In2015, CEAprepared the
installation for decommissioning by arranging the external
areas, receiving the ventilation unit and dismantling and
removing the control room.
The decommissioning operations will start in 2016. The
level of subcontracting will be particularly high on this
BNI. ASN will be attentive to the control of operations
performed by outside contractors.
2.2.5 The Marcoule centre installations
undergoing decommissioning
The Phénix reactor
The Phénix reactor, built andoperatedbyCEA, is a sodium-
cooled fast neutron reactor demonstrator. Itwas definitively
shut down in 2009. The decommissioning authorisation
application filewas submitted inDecember 2011.Within
the frameworkof the examinationof this decommissioning
application, CEA also anticipated the plant’s next periodic
safety reviewby submitting its file toASNat the endof 2012.
The AdvisoryCommittee of Experts for Laboratories and
Plants (GPU) met on 12th November 2014 and issued
a favourable opinion on the continued operation of the
installation with a view to its decommissioning, on the
performance of the final shutdown anddecommissioning
operations, andon the treatment of the sodiumandobjects
containing sodium from the Phénix power plant. ASN
sent its conclusions on the technical examination and
the consultations to the Minister responsible for Nuclear
Safety and issued its opinion on 22nd December 2015.
Preparatory operations for the decommissioning of the
Phénix power plant continued in 2015 and essentially
involved unloading the fuel storage tank and the vessel,
preparing carbonationof the residual films of sodiumfrom
the secondary systems, and fitting out the future premises
or units necessary for the decommissioningwork (NOAH
worksite, etc.). CEAnevertheless encountereddifficulties
during unloading of the fuel storage tanks and the vessel
due to problems linked to the ageing of certain items
of equipment in the shielded cells for treating irradiated
assemblies and experimental objects.
The inspections in 2015 focused on occupational
radiation protection, waste management, monitoring
outside contractors, operational control of the facilities
and compliance with operating documents. Moreover,
shortcomings in themonitoringof outside contractorswere
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CHAPTER 15:
SAFE DECOMMISSIONING OF BASIC NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015