LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT Also on the advice of and, as applicable, further to proposals from ASNR, this same Minister takes major individual resolutions concerning: ∙the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of BNIs; ∙the design, construction, operation, closure and decommissioning, as well as the surveillance, of radioactive waste disposal facilities. If an installation presents serious risks, the above-mentioned Minister can suspend the operation of an installation on the advice of ASNR. Furthermore – and on the basis of ASNR proposals if necessary – the Minister responsible for radiation protection defines the general regulations applicable to radiation protection. The regulation of worker radiation protection is the responsibility of the Minister for Labour. That concerning the radiation protection of patients is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. These roles are currently held by the Ministry for Labour and Solidarity. In their respective fields, they also approve ASNR technical regulations and certain individual resolutions affecting their own particular field (for example: setting BNI discharge limits during operation, BNI delicensing, etc.). The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Mission The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Mission (MSNR), within the General Directorate for Risk Prevention at the Ministry for Ecological Transition, Spatial Planning, Transport, Cities and Housing, is in particular tasked – in collaboration with ASNR – with proposing Government policy on nuclear safety and radiation protection, except for defence-related activities and facilities and the radiation protection of workers against ionising radiations. Defence and Security High Official Nuclear security, which includes radiological safety (IAEA definition, less wide-ranging than that of Article L. 591-1 of the Environment Code) is to protect and monitor nuclear materials, their facilities and their transportation. It aims to ensure protection of the populations and environment against the consequences of malicious acts, in accordance with the provisions of the Defence Code. This responsibility lies with the Minister for Ecological Transition, with the support of the Defence and Security High Official (HFDS) and more specifically its Nuclear Security Department. The HFDS thus acts as the nuclear security authority, by drafting regulations, issuing authorisations and conducting inspections in this field, with the support of the Armed Forces Ministry. Although the two regulatory systems and approaches are clearly different, the two fields, owing to the specificity of the nuclear field, are closely linked. ASNR and the HFDS are therefore regularly in contact with each other to discuss these matters. 1.3.2 – The decentralised State services The decentralised services of the French State are those which locally implement the decisions taken by the central administration and which manage the State’s services at the local level. These services are placed under the authority of the Prefects. ASNR maintains close relations with the Regional Directorates for the Environment, Planning and Housing (Dreal), the Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate for Public Works, Development and Transport of Ile-de-France (Drieat), the Regional Directorates for the economy, employment, labour and solidarity (Dreets) and the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) which, although not strictly speaking decentralised services but public bodies, have equivalent powers. The Prefects are the State’s local representatives. They are the guarantors of public order and play a particularly important role in the event of an emergency, in that they are responsible for measures to protect the general public. The Prefects intervene in the various procedures. In particular, they send the Minister their opinion on the report and the conclusions from the inquiry commissioner following the public inquiry into authorisation applications. At the request of ASNR, they refer to the Departmental Council for the Environment and Health and Technological Risks for an opinion on the water intake, discharges and other detrimental effects of BNIs. 1.4 The French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection The French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR) is an Independent Administrative Authority (AAI) created on 1 January 2025, in accordance with the provisions of the afore mentioned Act of 21 May 2024 on the organisation of the governance of nuclear safety and radiation protection, in order to address the challenges of the nuclear industry’s renewal ASNR combines the missions and skills of the Authority for Nuclear Safety (ASN), created in 2006, and almost all those of the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), created in 2001. ASNR regulates civil nuclear activities and radiation protection on behalf of the State, and carries out research, expert assessment, training and public information missions in the fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection. ASNR regulates and authorises nuclear activities. It supports public authorities in managing emergency situations. It plays a part in promoting transparency in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection and reports on its activities to Parliament. ASNR is governed by a Commission comprising five Commissioners, including an ASNR Chairman. They are appointed for a six-year term. Three are appointed by the President of the Republic and one by the President of each Parliamentary assembly. ASNR comprises departments placed under the authority of its Chairman. ASNR has an Administrative Enforcement Committee and an Ethics Committee (see point 1.4.2). For the purposes of technical analysis and assessment, it more particularly draws on the services of the various Advisory Committees of Experts (GPEs). 1.4.1 – The missions Oversight ASNR exercises oversight of compliance with the general rules and specific requirements for nuclear safety and radiation protection applicable to BNIs, to the Pressure Equipment (PE) designed specifically for these facilities and to Radioactive Substance Transport (RST). It also regulates the activities referred to in Article L. 1333-1 of the Public Health Code, as well as situations involving exposure to ionising radiation as defined in Article L. 1333‑3 of the same Code. ASNR maintains continuous radiation protection monitoring throughout the national territory. From among its staff, it appoints nuclear safety inspectors, radiation protection inspectors and inspectors carrying out labour inspectorate duties. ASNR issues the required approvals and certifications to the organisations participating in the verifications and in nuclear safety or radiation protection monitoring, as well as with regard to Nuclear Pressure Equipment (NPE). Ordinance 2016-128of 10 February 2016, issued pursuant to the TECV Act, reinforced ASNR’s monitoring capabilities and its powers of administrative policing and sanctioning, and broadened the scope of its competences. The effect of ASNR’s reinforced regulation, policing and enforcement powers help to improve the effectiveness of the regulation of nuclear safety and radiation protection. These policing and sanction powers 124 ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjQ0NzU=