Lessons from the public debate on radioactive waste management

The public was present and informed

"3,400 participants, or between 100 and 200 people per meeting, were able to express themselves and listen to the various points of view and expertise shared," underlines Isabelle Harel-Dutirou, president of the special committee for public debate (CPDP). On a sensitive but fairly technical subject, it is significant, Having been able to hold this debate is already a satisfaction, because some public meetings during previous public debates had shown difficulties in holding a calm, contradictory and well-argued discussion. "

“Beyond the meetings, the debate was enriched by a very extensive documentary corpus - including 62 stakeholder's contributions. Online questions and answers also allowed an even wider audience to participate, " adds Aurélien Louis, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Industry at the Directorate General for Energy and Climate. 28,820 visits were recorded on the public debate website, 12,101 files were downloaded and 3,043 messages were published on the participatory platform. “In general, it should be remembered that France, by organizing this public debate, demonstrates its requirements for transparency and continues its progress in the management of radioactive materials and waste,” continues Christophe Kassiotis, director of waste, research facilities and of the cycle at the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).

The preparation that preceded the organization of exchanges across France undoubtedly contributed to its smooth running. The special commission thus carried out a very beneficial controversy clarification exercise. "The idea is to provide participants with an overview of the various existing points of view of expertise so that everyone can debate on known bases," explains Isabelle Harel-Dutirou.

 

Everyone could have its word

For five months, a very large number of subjects were discussed. Often technical, but also ethical and societal, and sometimes controversial. And among them, some have gained more public attention and highlighted specific needs for the development of the next PNGMDR.

The question of health and environmental impacts of the storage, disposal and transport of radioactive materials and waste has been recurrent. The preferred management methods for radioactive waste according to their activity and their half-life were explained, as was the difference between a material and radioactive waste. For Andra, involved throughout the debate, it was an opportunity to listen to the concerns of the public and to speak out on these issues. “In addition to the publication of four stakeholder's contributions, we have had both an expert position in our field - radioactive waste management -, but also a listening and dialogue position to maintain the link with the all the stakeholders in the debate, ”explains Pierre-Marie Abadie, Andra's managing director.

Once the period of discussion was over, it was nevertheless necessary to provide answers to the questions raised. The decision published by the two contracting authorities in charge of the PNGMDR, the Ministry for the Ecological  Transition and the French Nuclear safety Authority (ASN), goes in this direction.