ILE DE FRANCE-GRANDE COURONNE

The beta-gamma station at Saclay includes two INBs (35 and 72), a workshop, and means of transport. The CEA has been carrying out improvements to the Zone de gestion des effluents liquides (INB 35) and to the Zone de gestion des déchets radioactifs solides (INB 72).  

In this zone (INB 35, Buildings 387 and 393) are carried out the collection and the temporary storage of effluents, as well as treatment of low- and medium-active aqueous effluents. An effluent evaporator produces both condensate (liquid) purified of most of the contamination, and concentrates that receive the contamination. The decontamination factor of the condensate is “close to 10,000, except for tritium, cerium, and carbon 14.”

If the tritium concentration is high, the condensate is sent to Marcoule [Birraux 96; Rivasi 00]. Otherwise, it is sent to the raw water reserve intended to supply the center with industrial water. The overflow of the reserve is carried off by the Aqueduc des Mineurs, with rain water, toward the Saclay ponds.

The concentrates undergo treatment intended to stabilize them chemically. If they are very active, they are stored for radioactive decrease. Otherwise, they are encased in bitumen and poured into 200 litre drums. These drums are sent on to INB 72 for an additional encasing in concrete shells [Birraux 96; CEAD 96]. The concentrates are very active in cesium-137 [CNE 96].

In 1992, a drum being filled caught fire in the bitumen encasing installation, necessitating a lengthy halt and changes in the installation. Then, in 1997, following an accident in a similar installation in Japan and an inspection of the installation at Saclay, the DSIN again suspended the authorization to operate. In 1999, in consideration of improvements made by the operator, DSIN authorized the re-start for four years [DSIN 99].

The CEA plans to put a new installation, Stella, into operation in 2003. On the interior of Stella, concentrates coming from evaporation will be treated chemically, then encased in cement and packaged in concrete fiber shells. In order to absorb the stocks, the unit will be built for a treatment capacity of 3000 cubic meters of effluents per year. The production for 2005 is estimated to be only 1500 m3 per year. The construction of Stella will necessitate an extension of the perimeter of INB 35 and, consequently, a public hearing [CEAD 99].

The other improvements made to the zone include the renovation of storage areas for aqueous and organic effluents (Reservoir Project).  In 1996, C. Birraux stated:  a storage site for 300 m3 of aqueous concentrates of medium activity (6 tanks of 50 m3) and another for 30 m3 of organic liquids (4 tanks) [Birraux 96].  The CEA's Direction for the gestion des déchets only mentions "six tanks with a total capacity of 300 m3 for the storage of low and medium activity effluents"  [CEAD 99].  The CEA requested the authorization to put the installation into operation and was awaiting an answer in 2001 [CEAD 99].  

Saclay treats effluents from other nuclear activity centers. In 1985, Saclay treated contaminated liquid effluents from the Vaujours-Moronvilliers center, and no doubt from other centers about which we have no information [CCHSC 10-11.ix.85]. In 1994, Saclay treated effluents from Bruyères-le-Châtel, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Ile Longue (the operational base for missile-launching nuclear submarines), Somanu, Framatome (Châlons), l’Andra (ZRS), EDF Chinon, and Cerba (Pontoise), totaling 584.3 m3 of contaminated liquids, containing 4.69 GBq of alpha activity, 45.6 GBq of beta/gamma activity, and 47.5 GBq of tritium [Birraux 96}.The Direction de la gestion des déchets indicates "other producers (ports of Brest and Toulon...)" concerned with treatment at CEA Saclay and CEA Cadarache [99].

The INB is used to stock oils and contaminated solvents, in particular those for which the final destination has not been decided.  In 2000, 11.3 m3 of solvents and oils and 12.5 m3 of aqueous effluents full of miscible organic products in drums [Andra 99]. In addition, the building stores 30t of earth contaminated with cesium-137 [Andra 00].  In addition, the building stores 30 t of earth contaminated with cesium-137 [Andra 00].

It also stores liquids and concentrates waiting to be sent to Andra.

V.B.1. INB 72 (Buildings 114, 116, 120) treats solid wastes of “low and medium activity” [Andra 96]. It performs the following tasks: sorting and compacting; preparation of radioactive sources for storage; placing into concrete shells; storage of radioactive drums before they are sent to Cadarache, to the CSA, or elsewhere [Birraux 96].

Until 1970, Saclay stocked wastes, after conditioning, in a storage area at Saclay itself or in a former community dump, l’Orme des Merisiers, in St.-Aubin. The center used this dump also for the burial of "very weakly radioactive" (TFA) earth and rubble and for spreading sludge from the treatment of industrial, chemical, and sanitary waters from the site. In 1989, 1720 t of decantation sludges containing "traces" of radioactivity" and stored in three trenches were transported to the monitored dump of Bailleau-Armenonville (Eure-et-Loir) [Andra 00].  In 1996, 653 t of treatment sludge, divided among 38 containers and stored in the zone of the former big mine at l'Orme des Merisiers were recovered and taken to Cadarache [Andra 99].  The earth and rubble from Cicaf at Corbeville (140 m3) containing traces of uranium; and sludges dumped in the former smalll mine (1800 m3, containing cesium 137 and traces of alpha radioactivity) remain on the site of Orme des Merisiers [Andra 00].

After 1970, the CEA shipped low activity wastes in metal drums to the Centre de stockage de la Manche (CSM) and stored medium activity wastes in an installation (Building 114), still existing where the radioactivity is allowed to decay (see below).

V.B.2. INB 72 includes three buildings:

--Building 114, comprised of long-term storage systems, including drained pits that contained, in 2000, 769 tanks of technological, iradiating, and/or alpha-emitting wastes and other wastes; a ditch containing concrete blocks; an exterior storage site containing 600 kg of uranium and 0.249 kg of plutonium; and pools containing fuel elements and sources [Andra 00]. The CEA has sent to the CSM or to Cadarache part of the waste that had long been stored in pits [CDRPC 94]. However, removal of these wastes cannot be completed before the construction of the Cedra installation at Cadarache [Con viii.99];

--Building 116 consists of a ventilated hall containing sources and objects with radium for medical uses;

--Building 120 consists in part of pits serving as storage for sources coming from Oris and Opri.[ANDRA 99 and 00]

V.B.3. INB 72 also includes some specialized installations:

--An oven for melting of lead that is “radioactive at a low level” [CEAD 93];

 --Two large concrete structures equipped with horizontal channels that serve as storage for old irradiated fuels of the UNGG and heavy water types;

--The“Précis” installation, started up in September 1996, which allows the examination and control of UNGG fuels. After preparation in the Precis installation, some UNGG fuel containing around 1.1 tons of metal uranium was sent to UP1 at Marcoule for reprocessing. The fuels remaining in Précis was examined, repackaged, and stored again in Précis, while a final solution was awaited [CEAD 99].

V.B.4. Area 615A, an ICPE, is composed of pits that serve for storage of wastes from Osiris and from EL3.

Also in this zone

- A new installation that  has 36 shafts for storing packages of waste;

- The station for storing sources, also a new installation, for long-term storage of sources waiting for  a disposal plan. It is composed of 108 storage wells and cells for sorting and packaging [CEAD 99].

This shop treats, decontaminates, and examines solid wastes. It is regularly renovated to develop the treatment of certain wastes. Since 1986, the shop carries out examinations, called "super-monitoring," for Andra-- it monitors packages selected as samples after their delivery to the Aube center and coming from various producers [CEAD 99].

V.D. Andra Collection Center

This center is located in a building at CEA Saclay. It gathers together waste collected from small producers. It sends the waste, approximately every two weeks, to the sorting center belonging to Socatri at Bollène (Vauclusè) [Andra 00].

RETURN TO SACLAY