ARTEMIS Report on Radioactive Waste And Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning And Remediation in France
The IAEA has released the Artemis report on the mission conducted in France in 2018, to to provide an independent expert opinion and advice on radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management, decommissioning and remediation, based upon the IAEA safety standards and technical guidance, as well as international good practice
The Review Team testifies of the quality of waste management in France in its report, stating that it "was impressed with the nature and implementation of the French national programme. The team consensus is the French national programme is comprehensive and coherent in fostering safety across the spectrum of laws, regulations, and decrees, and their effective implementation by the pertinent waste management organizations. Consequently, there are no recommendations made by the team, though a number of suggestions and best practices are noted."
Excepts from the Report excutive summary:
"At the request of French authorities, specifically the Ministre de la Transition écologique et solidaire (the “Ministry”), the International Atomic Energy Agency organized an ARTEMIS review of the French Policy on Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management.
The objective of the ARTEMIS Peer Review Service is to provide independent expert opinion and advice on radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management, decommissioning and remediation, based upon the IAEA safety standards and technical guidance, as well as international good practice.
France requested this review to fulfil its obligations under Article 14.3 of the Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom of 19 July 2011 establishing a Community Framework for the Responsible and Safe Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste (“Waste Directive”).
Representatives of the Bureau Politique Publique et Tutelle, Direction Générale de l'Energie et du Climat (DGEC), from the Ministre de la Transition écologique et solidaire provided the interface with the IAEA and coordinated the involvement of other relevant French organizations.
The review was performed by a team of ten senior international experts in the field of decommissioning and radioactive waste and spent fuel management, from multiple IAEA Member States, with IAEA staff providing coordination and administrative support. Subsequent to a preparatory meeting in May 2017, and the receipt and review of Advanced Reference Material fourth quarter of 2017, in January 2018 the ARTEMIS Peer Review team evaluated the overall French programme for the management of all types of radioactive waste and spent fuel, including aspects of decommissioning.
As guided by the expectation of the Waste Directive, the review addressed the following topics:
• The French national programme for the implementation of the Policy for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, its scope, milestones, deadlines, and the progress indicators;
• The plans for the establishment of a detailed inventory of radioactive waste;
• The allocation of responsibilities between the different organizations involved in the various steps of the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste;
• The funding mechanisms for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste;
• The French national arrangements for public information and participation; and
• The plans to ensure a high level of expertise, training and competence in the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.3
The report can be downloaded from our Publications page: