M. Jean-Christophe Niel

To what extent the issue of radioactive waste management methods, for which the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) is responsible, may nurture discussions on the management of other types of waste in terms of local acceptation of projects?

As for other waste, the development of radioactive waste management channels raises the issue of local acceptation of projects. In this context, the various stakeholders or general public’s representatives are associated to the reflection conducted on radioactive waste management. For example, they participated in the national debate organised on this matter at the end of 2005 by the National Commission of Public Debate (CNDP) in the perspective of the adoption, on June 28th, 2006, of the law on the sustainable management of radioactive materials and waste. This law provides for the adoption of a National Plan of Radioactive Materials and Waste Management (PNG-MDR). The PNG-MDR was prepared by an open-ended working group, in which environment protection associations actively participated. 
At last, the National Agency for Radioactive Management (ANDRA) has been endeavouring to offer more transparency, for example by publishing the inventory of radioactive materials and waste and the report on environment-friendly storage of radioactive waste that it handed over to public authorities in 2005.

These efforts have contributed to the adoption of a clear road map for radioactive waste management, which was incorporated to the law on radioactive materials and waste management of June 28th, 2006. This experience, to my opinion, may serve as an example to all professionals involved in waste management.

The safety of nuclear plants is an international preoccupation that as been the object of many international cooperation processes. It is also the case of radioactive waste management; the authorities of countries signatories to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management gather every three years to present provisions taken pursuant to this convention to their peers. It is to be noticed that Nordic countries have a long tradition of discussions between decision-makers and stakeholders, which concretely translates into a better acceptability of waste management facilities and management programs that are among the most advanced in the world.

The invitation of Swedish or Belgians is a way to offer everyone the opportunity to benefit from experiences characterised by a direct exchange of citizens with national project initiators, which guarantees, in the end, a good level of acceptation of projects presented.

One of the conclusions of the 2005 public debate on radioactive waste had to do with the introduction, in France, of an Authority that would be independent from the ministers involved in the promotion of waste storage or treatment facilities projects. This independent administrative authority status was granted to the ASN, in November 2006, as it was to most of its developed countries’ foreign counterparts. This change of status is part of a strategy to strengthen transparency in nuclear safety.

The main missions of the ASN in the field of radioactive waste management, among which the monitoring of waste channels’ safety, from waste producers to waste disposal contractors, have nevertheless not been revised.

The ASN remains vigilant, in particular with regard to the development of comprehensive and safe channels for all radioactive waste.

The law on nuclear transparency and security of June 13th, 2006, strengthens the right of access to information on nuclear security. It introduces a right of access to the information detained by basic nuclear plant operators for the general public. It also confers a genuine legal status to the Local Information Commissions (CLI) with regard to nuclear sites, and provides for the setting up of a High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Security. As was recommended by the OPECST in its March 2007 PNG-MDR assessment report, a permanent group specialised in the information on radioactive waste management could be instituted within the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Security. The main challenge is to make this information available so that stakeholders’ concerns are given the required attention.