Île‑de‑France Liquid Effluents Management Zone The Liquid Effluents Management Zone (ZGEL) constitutes BNI 35. Declared by CEA by letter of 27 May 1964, this facility is dedicated to the treatment of radioactive liquid effluents. CEA was authorised by a Decree of 8 January 2004 to create “Stella”, an extension in the BNI for the purpose of treating and packaging low-level aqueous effluents from the Saclay centre. These effluents are concentrated by evaporation then immobilised in a cementitious matrix in order to produce packages that are acceptable for the above-ground waste repositories of the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra). At present, the facility is no longer able to receive effluent from Saclay producers. Alongside this, CEA has suspended reception of effluents from other BNIs since 2016, due to the conducting of complementary investigations into the stability of the structure of the room for storing low-level liquid effluents (room 97). The majority of the low- and intermediate-level radioactive effluents produced by the Saclay site production sources are now directed to the Marcoule Liquid Effluent Treatment Station (STEL). The evaporation facility used to treat the radioactive effluents has been out of service since 2019 due to technical anomalies on an equipment item. Following the authorisation issued by the ASN in 2023 for a modification to the separator shell, CEA has undertaken the necessary work to allow a limited resumption of evaporation campaigns. The process of encapsulation in cement, used to treat the concentrates in the facility, was stopped temporarily by CEA in June 2021, following the production of two 12H active packages that did not comply with the packaging approval issued by Andra. After obtaining a new approval from Andra, CEA restarted the encapsulation in cement of concentrates in 2025 and plans to resume the removal of 12H packages in the near future. In view of CEA’s commitments and the action plan established at the end of the periodic safety review and further to its examination of the concluding report of the said review, ASNR considered in 2025 that it had no objection to the continued operation of BNI 35. CEA has made a number of commitments to improve the safety of the facility, including emptying certain tanks and controlling the risk of fire. ASNR will be vigilant in monitoring the commitments and progress of the action plan, and in ensuring that the facility takes on board the results of the reports and studies carried out in this context. In 2025, waste management appears to be satisfactory, but attention needs to be paid to storage areas and the monitoring of associated deadlines. In addition, improvements are expected in the reclassification of protection important components. While ASNR has noted CEA’s investment in 2025 with a view to resuming evaporation and cementation, the resumption and packaging of historical effluents, in particular from the MA500 tanks and the tanks in pit 99, remain areas of concern. A priority pit 99 tank was emptied in 2024. However, non-pumpable residues remain in the bottom of this tank. Finally, CEA will decide in 2026 on the future of the facility. In the event of continued operation, an ambitious action plan is expected to achieve a level of safety consistent with the planned future of the facility. FACILITIES UNDERGOING DECOMMISSIONING The decommissioning operations on the Saclay site concern two BNIs, the High Activity Laboratory (LHA) and the solid radioactive waste management zone (BNI 72). DECPROs are being carried out in two definitively shut down BNIs, namely the Osiris and Isis reactors (BNI 40) and the Orphée reactor (BNI 101). Operations are also being carried out on parts of the in-service ZGEL (BNI 35) which have ceased their activity. Two Installations Classified for Protection of the Environment (ICPEs – EL2 and EL3) previously classified as BNIs but which have not been completely decommissioned due to the lack of a disposal route for the low-level long-lived waste, are also concerned by decommissioning. Their downgrading from BNI to ICPE status in the 1980s, in compliance with the regulations of that time, could not be done today. Broadly speaking, CEA’s decommissioning and waste management strategy has been examined by ASN, which stated its position in May 2019 on the priorities defined by CEA (see chapters 12 and 13 of the full ASNR Report). An update of this strategy, taking into account operating experience feedback, is expected by ASNR. High-activity laboratory The High-Activity Laboratory (LHA) comprises several laboratories intended for research work or the production of various radionuclides. It constitutes BNI 49. On completion of the decommissioning and clean-up work authorised by the Decree of 18 September 2008, only two laboratories currently in operation should ultimately remain under 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 retrieval of disused sources. Despite the progress of the clean-up and decommissioning operations, the accumulated delays prevented CEA from meeting the deadline of 21 September 2018 set by the Decree authorising LHA decommissioning. The discovery of pollution in certain “intercell yards” in 2017 also led to changes being made in the operations to be carried out. Investigations into the radiological status of the soils were conducted between 2019 and 2021. The licensee submitted a Decommissioning Decree modification file in December 2021. The justification for the time necessary to complete the decommissioning operations authorised by the Decree of 18 September 2008 shall be reviewed in the ongoing assessment of this file. In 2024, after examining the periodic safety review concluding report submitted by CEA in 2017, ASN considered that it had no objection to the continued operation of BNI 49 pending the amendment of its Decommissioning Decree. In the context of this periodic safety review, compliance actions, in particular regarding control of fire– related risks, were identified. ASN also asked CEA to take measures to guarantee the integrity of certain items of equipment whose decommissioning has been delayed. Investigations and studies enabling the management of unidentified waste discovered at the end of 2022 in all the concrete containment structures constituting the TOTEM shielded process line continued in 2025, and the evacuation of this waste is underway. ASNR considers that the overall level of safety at BNI 49 is satisfactory and, despite the delays, highlights positively the overall progress of the decommissioning operations and the measures taken by the licensee to improve coordination of the work and project management. Management of the two laboratories in operation also appeared satisfactory. However, improvements are expected in the management of plant equipment tagout, as well as periodic inspections and tests of pressure gauges. ASNR remains vigilant with regard to the management of the very low level waste zones of BNI 49, particularly on account of the future decommissioning work which will produce additional waste. Consequently, the adequacy of the existing waste storage areas for the future needs is of major importance for the conduct of the decommissioning operations in accordance with the planned schedule. ABSTRACTS – ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025 67
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjQ0NzU=