ILE DE FRANCE-GRANDE COURONNE

The CEA studied at Saclay the enrichment of lithium [Morichaud 96] and of uranium. The CEA planned to complete the dismantling of its gaseous diffusion pilots before 1998 [CEAD 94].

Silva, enrichment by laser, has been studied at Saclay since about 1980. The pilots for the process include A-2 and Aster.

A-2 (Silva 2) is a pilot for complete tests. It has operated since 1987 or perhaps earlier and it includes the separator Andromède. Successive versions have been used.

Aster (Atomes séparés par des techniques d’évaporation et de rayonnement), an extension of A-2, whose laser power has been increased tenfold, is an assemblage of all the functions of the process. It went into service in 1996. Its capacity is measured in “kilos of enriched uranium” [défi vi.94; CEARa 94]. In 1996 and 1997, it was to demonstrate separative performances in conditions representative of the process. The installation includes a large separator Aldebaran, the size of which “is close to that of an enriched uranium production module capable of supplying a nuclear power plant” [RGN iii-iv.96; CEAPr 24.iv.97]

The CEA was to abandon work on Silva by the end of  2003 in order to concentrate on enrichment by ultra-centrifugation.

I. B. Laboratoire de haute activité (High activity laboratory, LHA) (INB 49)

Operated since 1955, the laboratory ‘is composed of several laboratories equipped to carry out various research or production tasks on different radionuclides” [BIST x.60; DSIN 99].

The CEA has dismantled cells at various dates. Wastes coming from the dismantling of hot laboratories at Saclay, deposited at the CSM in 1971, have contaminated the groundwater with tritium [Acro 93].

The hot cells of Saclay where radionuclides were produced were shut down in 1972, dismantled to level 3 and re-classified in 1994 [CEAD 94].

Cell 4, which produced tritium, was dismantled in 1981. For the wastes with the most tritium, the CEA decided upon recovery of tritium in appropriate installations [Hayes 82].

An application for authorization bearing on the modification of Leci (see below) indicated that the CEA planned to transfer there what remained of LHA in the late 90s [Crii-Rad 98].  

In 1999 and 2000, “work included in the over-all clean-up of the installation, corresponding to progressive cessation of research and development activities, was continued”[DSIN99,00].

As of 2007 LHA was composed of seventeen cells, one of which housed offices and ten of which had been emptied and cleansed. The work of cleansing cells 3, 10, 11, and 15 and, in particular the cleansing of the shielded line, Totem, in cell 10, continued in 2007 [CEASac 07].  

Decree no. 2008-979 of September 18, 2008 authorized dismantling and cleansing to permit the removal of LHA from the list of INBs [JO 21.ix.08].

In 2007 a new laboratory to host the analysis of of samples of nuclear effluents was opened. This and any other nuclear activities that will continue at LHA after LHA is no longer an INB will be carried out under the regulations for an ICPE [CEASac 07]. According to ASN's report on nuclear safety in 2008, only two laboratories will operate after dismantling and cleansing operations have been completed [ASN 08].

I.C. Laboratoire d’études de combustibles irradiés (Laboratory for studies of irradiated fuel, Leci) until 1994, then Laboratoire d’essais sur combustibles irradiés (Laboratory for tests of irradiated fuel) (INB 50)

Operated since 1958, the laboratory has conducted studies on fuel irradiated in 900 MWe pressurized water reactors, including Mox, and research reactors [BIST vi.66].

In 2000, the CEA modified the activities of Leci. It planned to transfer to Cadarache most of the work of examining irradiated fuel, although it would allow Leci to keep the capacity to examine fuel rods from the experimental reactors at Saclay. It planned to equip Leci with the means to develop the materials assessment work of the Centre d’études de mécanique et de métallurgie des matériaux irradiés (C3MI), created in 1994. This change would necessitate modifying the existing line of concrete shield boxes and creating an extension that would house a new line of lead shielded boxes [DSIN 99].

The above program was apparently put into effect.  In a report compiled in 2007, the CEA describes the work of Leci as follows:  Leci is a laboratory "permitting the study of the mechanical and metallurgical behavior of all irradiated materials (metals, absorbers, ceramics, . . .) coming from nuclear research and electricity-producing reactors and of the examination of irradiated fuel" [CEASac 07, p. 6].

In October 1999, during a thorough cleaning of an area of Leci, two cases, “each of which contained a non-irradiated fuel rod consisting of 790 grams of uranium oxide enriched to 3.8%, were found by chance”. These fuel rods escaped the “inventory from the ground up” carried out in 1997-98 in all of the CEA plants, which reveals a gap in the inventory procedures of the CEA [Con i.00]. 

 Following this problem, a re-examination of security led to a series of requests for improvements addressed to the CEA and to a revision of the technical prescriptions [DSIN 00].

Operation of an extension of Leci was authorized by stages starting in 2004.  The compete operation of the extension was granted in 2006 [ASN 08].

I. D. Atelier de réalisation d’assemblages combustibles (Arac, Fuel assembly production shop)-shut down

This plant manufactured small fuel rods, designed for irradiation in study reactors. and fuel assembly prototypes [DSIN 99]

Arac began operation in 1975 [JO 25.iii.75]. In 1983 an extension was authorized to permit research on and development of fuel for 900 MW and 1300 MW reactors, activities relating to the fabrication of Caramel fuel and the use for a certain time of up to 1000 grams of uranium enriched to above 10%. Building 68 and a part of Building 60 (fabrication and monitoring) and Building 80 (storage of fissile materials) were added to the workshop. Building 68 and a part of building 80 could be classified “defense secret” for manufacturing relating to defense [SN vii-viii.83]. This means that Saclay worked on fuel for submarines.

The operation of this workshop ceased in 1995. The nuclear materials were cleared out and the installation was cleaned up. It was removed from the list of INBs at the end of 1999 [DSIN 99].

In 1998 DSIN authorized the introduction and use of radioactive samples from the Dam at Valduc. One to five transfers to Lure of up to one gram of plutonium can be made each year. It is not clear whether each transfer or five transfers can equal one gram [Con xii.98, p. 16].

I.F. Cellule Celimene

Celimene, adjoining the reactor EL3, began operating in 1965 to examine fuel from EL3. It was attached to the Laboratoire d'études des combustibles irradiés (Leci).  The last fuel rods were removed in 1995, and several partial cleansing campaigns were conducted prior to 1998.  The installation is now under surveillance.  Dismantling is expected to take place from 2012 to 2015.  In 2007 the CEA transmitted to ASN an update of the installation's safety report [ASN 08].

--Last entered April 14, 2009

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