LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT Redevelopment of the uranium processing tailings disposal sites consisted notably in placing a solid cover over the tailings to provide a geochemical and radiological protective barrier to limit the risks of intrusion, erosion, dispersion of the stored products and the risks of external and internal exposure of the neighbouring populations. The regulatory context The uranium mines, their annexes and their conditions of closure are covered by the Mining Code. The disposal facilities for radioactive mining tailings are governed by section 1735 of the ICPE classification system. The mines and the mine tailings disposal sites are not subject to ASNR oversight. However, ASNR can support the State bodies responsible for conducting reviews, on request. In the specific case of the former uranium mines, an action plan was defined by Circular 2009-132 of 22 July 2009 of the Minister responsible for the environment and the Chairman of ASN, along the following work lines: ∙monitor the former mining sites; ∙improve the understanding of the environmental and health impact of the former uranium mines and their monitoring; ∙manage the mining waste rock (better identify the uses and reduce impacts if necessary); ∙reinforce information and consultation. PNGMDR: the long-term behaviour of the sites The studies submitted for the PNGMDR since 2003 have enhanced knowledge of: ∙the dosimetric impact of the mine tailing disposal areas on man and the environment, in particular through the comparison of data obtained from monitoring and the results of modelling; ∙the evaluation of the long-term dosimetric impact of the waste rock stockpiles and waste rock in the public domain in relation to the results obtained in the context of the Circular of 22 July 2009; ∙the strategy chosen for the changes in the treatment of water collected from former mining sites; ∙the relation between the discharged flows and the accumulation of marked sediments in the rivers and lakes; ∙the methodology for assessing the long-term integrity of the embankments surrounding tailings disposal sites; ∙transport of uranium from the waste rock piles to the environment; ∙the mechanisms governing the mobility of uranium and radium within uranium-bearing mining tailings. Further to ASN opinion 2016-AV-0255 of 9 February 2016, and in the context of the PNGMDR 2016-2018, Orano submitted 11 studies between January 2017 and February 2020 to supplement the studies submitted prior to this. Based on this, ASN issued an opinion on 4 February 2021 to review the situation on these subjects. Consequently, ASN opinion 2021-AV-0374 of 4 February 2021 specifies the studies still to be carried out to meet the challenges associated with the former mining sites and reiterated above. These studies may lead to the performance of work such as removal of the mining tailings from public land, reinforcement of the structures encircling the disposal sites, and improving preservation of the memory. This opinion also recommends continuing the work of the two technical working groups concerning: ∙Maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas. The final report on maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas published on 30 January 2023, was updated on 12 November 2024. This update does not call into question the recommendations, methods and conclusions indicated in the final report published in 2023. From now on, this report shall be taken into consideration by Orano in order to update its assessments of the stability of its structures encircling the mining residue disposal sites. ∙Management of the water from the former uranium mining sites. With the aim of reducing the overall impact (radiological and chemical) of releases on people and ecosystems, the special technical working group finalised in June 2024 the drafting of the methodology guide for drafting the multi-criterion analysis methodology. This is a decision-making aid guide regarding the questions of maintaining, shutting down or modifying the treatment of mine water collected on a given site, in some cases housing a uranium ore treatment residues repository. This final version is awaiting publication. ASNR has proposed creating a third working group which will focus on the updating of the methodology for assessing the longterm impact of the mining processing residue disposal sites. This working group will endeavour more specifically to detail the longterm deterioration scenarios for the covers of mining processing residue disposal facilities, in relation with the radioactive waste disposal site development scenarios and the work carried out by the pluralistic expert assessment group for the uranium mining sites of the Limousin region (GEP Limousin). This working group has not yet started, priority having been given to completing the work of the two working groups mentioned above. The PNGMDR 2022-2026 plans to continue these actions concerning the long-term environmental and health impact of the management of the former uranium mines. These actions will notably take into consideration the continued updating of the studies on structure stability applying the methodology proposed by the final report on maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas and application of the methodology for management of the waters from former mining sites specified above. With regard to studies to assess the stability of its structures surrounding mine tailings disposal sites, the study for the Bernardan site, submitted in October 2023, is currently undergoing expert assessment by ASNR. With regard to the assessment of the Montmassacrot site, in November 2024 ASN asked Orano for additional information on the study submitted in October 2021 in order to demonstrate the short- and long-term stability of the structure. Orano submitted its initial response on 23 December 2024 and an updated stability study on 31 March 2025. This new study requires additional technical information on the piezometry within the disposal site and the structure. In order to continue with the hydrogeological and geotechnical studies, a notification was sent to the Haute-Vienne prefecture on 25 August 2025, setting out all the work to be carried out, including the installation of three piezometers. These new fracture analysis studies should be submitted in the first half of 2026. Regarding the Bois Noir Limouzat mine tailings storage site, Orano submitted an environmental permit application in the summer of 2025 for the redevelopment of the site into a solid cover. The application is currently being examined by the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (Dreal) with the support of the ASNR. Finally, Orano should submit stability studies for the Bertholène, Gueugnon, Lodève and Saint-Pierre du Cantal sites in the first half of 2026. 4 – Management of sites and soils contaminated by radioactive substances A site contaminated by radioactive substances is defined as a site which, due to the presence of old deposits of radioactive substances or waste, or to the utilisation or infiltration of radioactive substances or radiological activation of materials, presents radioactive contamination that could cause adverse effects or a lasting risk for people or the environment. 374 ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025
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