Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

the first time in French history, a public debate was set up in accordance with a national policy and
not on a specific project. The debate took place from September 2005 to January 2006 and involved
close to 600,000 documents being distributed to 3,000 participants who attended 13 meetings
throughout the country. It should be pointed out, however, that the debate remained a discussion
among pro-nuclear supporters and anti-nuclear protesters most of the time, although it also
provided an opportunity to refine and clarify expectations and challenges.
Following the public inquiry and considering the research results and their assessment, Parliament
adopted on 28 June 2006 the Planning Act Concerning the Sustainable Development of Radioactive
Materials and Waste [9]. The new legislation encompasses all radioactive waste, irrespective of
their activity level, and prescribes, among other requirements, specific procedures and deadlines
with a view to commissioning by 2025 a new deep geological repository for high-level and intermediate-level
long-lived waste. With reference to the geological disposal, the Planning Act renews
the assessment system of Andra’s studies and investigations by the National Review Board (Commission
nationale d’évaluation – CNE) and by the Parliamentary Office for the Assessment of Scientific
and Technological Options (Office parlementaire d’évaluation des choix scientifiques et
technologiques – OPECST) and the assessment of its future licence application by the French Nuclear
Safety Authority (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire – ASN). In addition, a new act will set forth
the prerogatives of the Local Information and Follow-up Committee (Commission locale
d’information et de suivi – CLIS), responsible for public information and consultation, and prescribe
a public debate and inquiry before any licence may be issued.
Situations are always very complex, and any transfer of experience remains quite limited not only
through the different Community projects, but also over time. Political and cultural conditions at
the local, regional and national levels are determining in all cases. However, the exchange of approaches
and practices develops a favourable frame of mind for listening and sharing for which the
NEA’s FSC plays a very useful role for all partners involved.
7. Conclusions
With regard to the different challenges at stake, considerable advances have been achieved thanks
to the respective efforts, support and advice of international organisations. The EC, through its successive
FPRDs, has been contributing very largely for more than 20 years to the different scientific
disciplines that have been mobilised about the issue of geological disposal. The experiments conducted
in the first generation of so-called “generic” underground laboratories were useful to prepare
investigation and measurement methods that were subsequently implemented in underground laboratories
on site. The NEA’s efforts also contributed to further advances, first about ethical issues,
then on the structuring of safety cases. Today, the NEA’s efforts are most valuable in the field of
governance and decision-making relating to radioactive waste management. Lastly, special emphasis
should be given to the key role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), especially
in the development of reference documents.
8. Acknowledgements
May all those who have contributed for many years to the significant advances of radioactive waste
disposal projects be congratulated and thanked here for their continuing efforts in research and development
and for their determination to convince those who have to make relevant decisions.
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