Anciennes Mines D'uranium Et Sites De Production: Départements De La
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Report Art. 35 France - uranium – FR-10/06 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY DIRECTORATE D Nuclear Energy F D4 – Radiation protection REPORT VERIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 35 OF THE EURATOM TREATY Former uranium mines and production sites Departments of Haute-Vienne and Limousin Region FRANCE 14 to 17 September 2010 Reference: FR-10/06 Page 1 / 81 Report Art. 35 France - uranium – FR-10/06 VERIFICATION PERFORMED UNDER ARTICLE 35 OF THE EURATOM TREATY INSTALLATIONS: Environmental radioactivity monitoring installations around former uranium mine sites and uranium extraction residue storage sites in the Limousin region. IMPLEMENTATION: Limousin region DATE: From 14 to 17 September 2010 REFERENCE: FR-10/06 REPORT DATE: 30 Nov. 2010 INSPECTORS: C. Gitzinger (team leader) E. Henrich E. Hrnecek SIGNATURES: C. Gitzinger E. Henrich [signed] [signed] E. Hrnecek [signed] Page 2 / 81 Report Art. 35 France - uranium – FR-10/06 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Preparation and Implementation ............................................................................................... 8 1.2 Programme ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Documentation ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Contacts .................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Uranium Mines in France ............................................................................................................ 10 2.1 General historic overview....................................................................................................... 10 2.2 The situation in the region of Limousin ................................................................................. 14 2.3 Sources of exposure to radiation associated with former uranium mines ............................... 15 2.3.1 Sources of exposure related to the reuse of tailings ........................................................... 16 2.3.2 Sources of exposure related to the storage of waste ........................................................... 17 2.3.3 Sources of exposure related to the transfer of radioactive substances in water and sediment contamination downstream of mining sites ..................................................................................... 18 3. Regulatory Authorities - Operator .............................................................................................. 18 3.1 Legal regulations .................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 19 3.1.2 The current legal situation .................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Administrative structures, support organism and pluralistic expertise group ......................... 21 3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 21 3.2.2 Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea (MEEDDM) - Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Mission (MSNR) ............................................................ 22 3.2.3 Departmental Prefectures ................................................................................................... 24 3.2.4 The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)................................................................................. 24 3.2.5 The Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) ............................... 26 3.2.6 Pluralistic Expertise Group (GEP) - Limousin................................................................... 27 3.3 "The Operator" AREVA NC –Bessines facility ..................................................................... 27 3.3.1 Situation within the AREVA NC Group ............................................................................ 27 3.3.2 Activities exercised by AREVA NC services .................................................................... 29 4. Problem Issues at Decommissioned Uranium Sites .................................................................... 32 4.1 Reclaiming old mining sites ................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Mine tailings ........................................................................................................................... 33 4.3 residues from mining processes .............................................................................................. 34 4.4 Overflow water ....................................................................................................................... 36 4.5 The management of mine tailings and residues and overflow water ...................................... 37 4.6 Radiological and environmental monitoring of former uranium mining sites and residue storage sites by the operator and controls conducted by the authorities .............................................. 39 4.6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 39 4.6.2 Monitoring by the operator ................................................................................................ 39 4.6.3 Controls by the administration (authorities) and support structures ................................... 41 5. Former Uranium Mines in the Limousin Region and Uranium Production Sites – Description and Verification ................................................................................................................. 47 Page 3 / 81 Report Art. 35 France - uranium – FR-10/06 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 47 5.2 The monitoring of mining sites in the Limousin region ......................................................... 47 5.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 47 5.2.2 Monitoring conducted by the operator ............................................................................... 47 5.2.3 Administrative controls ...................................................................................................... 48 5.2.4 Information on the results of radiological monitoring ....................................................... 48 5.3 Focus on operations in Haute Vienne ..................................................................................... 49 5.3.1 The three levels of radiological monitoring at former uranium mining sites ..................... 50 5.3.2 The Industrial Site of Bessines ........................................................................................... 51 5.3.3 The Fanay/Augères site ...................................................................................................... 58 5.3.4 The Margnac/Peny site ....................................................................................................... 59 5.3.5 Puy de l’Age ...................................................................................................................... 60 5.3.6 The "Bernardan-Cherbois" site in Jouac ............................................................................ 61 5.3.7 The Bellezane site .............................................................................................................. 62 5.3.8 Lake St. Pardoux ................................................................................................................ 63 6. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 63 ANNEXES Annex 1 Summary of the inspection programme Annex 2 Documentation Annex 3 Circular of 22 July 2009 from the Ministry of the Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea (MEEDDM) and the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) Annex 4 Summary of the results and conclusions of a study taking into consideration 4 scenarios for reusing mine tailings in the public domain (AREVA NC, 2008) Annex 5 Letter dated 12 June 2009 from the company AREVA NC addressed to the Minister of State Annex 6 The various uranium mining sites in the Haute Vienne Page 4 / 81 Report Art. 35 France - uranium – FR-10/06 TECHNICAL REPORT ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS AFSSET French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety ALGADE ALpha GAmma DElta (company created in 1993, inheriting the radiation protection teams from the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission for uranium mines) ANDRA National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management ARALEP Pollution Expertise Research Application AREVA NC AREVA subsidiary specialising in the nuclear fuel cycle ASN Nuclear Safety Authority ASN/DEU Nuclear Safety Authority – Directorate of Environment and Emergencies BDE Decennial Environmental Report (established by AREVA NC at the request of the prefect for Haute-Vienne) BRGM Bureau