BASSE-NORMANDIE- LOWER NORMANDY LA HAGUE V. MODIFICATION OF THE DECREES PERMITTING OPERATION OF UP2-800 AND UP3 In 1998 Cogéma submitted dossiers seeking authorization to make several major changes: 1) To reprocess in UP2-800 and UP-3 a greater variety of fuel than previously. As of early 2001 UP2-800 and UP-3 could reprocess only LWR fuel enriched when fresh to 4% uranium 235 and with a burnup of only 45,000 MW/d/t. Cogéma wanted to reprocess in these installations high burnup fuel, Mox fuel for LWRs and for fast neutron reactors, and research reactor fuel of the MTR type. At that time only UP2-400 was authorized to reprocess Mox fuel and MTR fuel, and since it had not operated for two years, a new reprocessing campaign in that facility would necessitate a public inquiry. 2) To reprocess up to 1000 metric tons of heavy metal per year in UP2-800 and up to 1000 in UP-3. Each was authorized to process only about 800 t per year. In a letter that accompanied the dossier, Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Cogéma, made a commitment not to reprocess a total of more than 1700 t per year [NF 24.i.00]. 3) To treat effluents, rejects, and wastes from other sites, including installations in foreign countries. 4) To store an increased quantity of irradiated fuel in the fuel storage pools. Cogéma wanted the authorization to be increased from 14,390 t of heavy metal to 18,000 t of heavy metal. It sought to install compact racks to increase the capacity of pool C to 4800 t, of D to 4600 t, and of E to 6200 t. The public inquiry on the request for modification of the decrees ended 17 May 2000. Cogéma did not submit a request for new authorizations for the release of effluents in its dossier requesting modification of the decrees permitting its operation, although the government had tried to convince Cogéma to do so. If Cogéma does not request a new effluent release authorization, the government plans to "issue one on its own authority" [NucF 24.i.00]. The commission responsible for the public inquiry submitted its final report to the prefect June 26, 2000. The prefect sent the report to DSIN which had to prepare the authorizations. The report was generally favorable to the requests of Cogéma, but specified that modifications should not increase the environmental impact or cause health and safety problems. On 10 January 2003, the relevant ministers signed decrees authorizing Cogéma to modify the installations UP-2-800, UP-3, and STE and to release gaseous and liquid effluents up to new limits stated in the decree. UP2-800 and UP-3 can now each reprocess every year fuel containing up to 1000 metric tons of uranium and plutonium (heavy metal) before irradiation. The quantity of fuel treated at La Hague each year must, however, contain less than 1700 metric tons of plutonium and uranium. Each installation can reprocess UO2 fuel for light water reactors made with natural uranium with a burn up of 75,000 MW/d/t or less and with an average enrichment of 5%; UO2 fuel for light water reactors made with reprocessed uranium with a burn up of 75,000 MW/d/t or less and an average enrichment of 4.9%; MOX fuel for light water reactors with a burn up of 65,000 MW/d/t or less; MOX fuel for fast neutron reactors with a burn up of 120,000 MW/d/t or less; and fuel for research reactors. Each type of fuel, nuclear material, or radioactive substance that is significantly different from the irradiated fuel from light water reactors that was treated at La Hague prior to the new authorization is to be the subject of a specific authorization delivered in a joint decree from the minister of energy and the minister of industry after examination of a specific file on safety compiled by Cogéma. The authorized storage capacity for irradiated fuel has been increased as Cogéma requested [JO 11.i.03; DSIN 02]. --Revised 30 March 2004 | |||