|
CHAMAGNE-ARDENNES
CENTRE DE STOCKAGE DES DÉCHETS À TRÈS FAIBLE ACTIVITÉ (TFA)
Purpose
:
final storage of wastes characterized as very weakly radioactive
Location
:
45 ha site in the commune of Morvilliers near Troyes (Aube)
Operator
:
Andra
Period of operation
:
since August 2003. The project is sized to receive waste for thirty years.
Raw materials
:
wastes said to be very weakly radioactive
Nuclear materials
:
wastes contaminated with uranium, tritium, etc.
Nominal capacity
:
650,000 m3 (or 700,000 to 900,000 tons) of waste
About 80% of the waste placed at the site comes from the dismantling of nuclear
installations—“old iron, rubble, metal pipes, big exchangers, insulating
materials.” About 20% of the waste comes from industries that handle elements
that are naturally radioactive, such as fertilizer with phosphate. If the waste
includes chemical elements, it is treated before it is stored.
The wastes are placed in alveoli dug in clay. The bottom of each alveolus is
equipped with a system of drainage and filtration to receive any water that
filters in. The wastes themselves are isolated from the environment by means of
a synthetic membrane which surrounds them, a thick layer of clay under and
beside the alveolus, an upper membrane, and a cover of clay.
A movable roof covers an alveolus while wastes are being placed in it.
During the exploitation phase, all the water on the site will be collected and
controlled. After that phase, Andra will maintain surveillance of the site for
several dozen years, according to Andra [RGN.v-vi.03].
After the site had been in operation for two years, Andra asked the Aube
prefect to increase the allowable volume of waste stored per year from 24,000 m3
to 37,000 m3 and to change certain operating conditions in order to accommodate
the increased amount of waste needing disposal because of dismantling operations
underway. The prefect granted the request in a decree of 21 July 2006 [ASN
2007].
--revised September 6, 2008
Copyright © 2001-2007 Yggdrasil; Copyright
© 2008 Ecoperspectives
|