IRSN’s contribution to the fifth national
radioactive materials and waste management plan
Principles and objectivesof the PNGMDRIRSN FACT SHEETS

September 2021

www.irsn.fr

Principles• Reduction of the quantity
and harmfulness ofradioactive waste.
• Interim storage, in
dedicated facilities, ofradioactive materials
awaiting processing and of
final radioactive waste
awaiting disposal.
• Disposal in a deep
geological layer of final
radioactive waste thatcannot, for reasons of
nuclear safety or radiation
protection, be disposed of insurface or shallow-landfacilities.
Objectives• Review existing methods ofmanagement of radioactive
materials and waste, and thetechnical solutions adopted.
• Identify the estimatedneeds of storage or disposal
facilities (necessary
capacities, storage
durations).
• Define the overall objectives
to be achieved and the main
deadlines to be met, taking
into account the priorities
defined.
• Determine the objectives tobe achieved for radioactive
waste awaiting finalmanagement.
• Organize theimplementation of researchand studies on themanagement of radioactive
materials and waste.
• Ensure the compatibility of
the recommendedradioactive waste andmaterial management
solutions with the guidelinesof the multi-annual energy
programming (PPE)ContactEmmanuelle Mur
Tel. +33(0)1 58 35 96 71
Registered office31, av. de la Division Leclerc
92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses

The French national radioactive materials and waste management plan (PNGMDR)In France, the management of radioactive materials and waste is governed by a national plan resulting from the applicationof the program law of June 28, 2006 on the sustainable management of radioactive materials and waste. The objectives ofthe latter are defined in Article L. 542-1-2 of the French Environment Code. First released in 2007, this plan was updated in2010, 2013, and 2016. Its fifth version is expected to cover a period of five years.

The fifth PNGMDR
Key challenges
The fifth PNGMDR defines the actions to be taken in the field of radioactive material and waste management. However, it
is part of a longer time frame at the end of which several important decisions are expected to be made, such as:▪ the status of radioactive material management, with regard to reuse prospects and, for spent nuclear fuels, the need for
new storage capacity by 2030,▪ the need for additional disposal capacity to accommodate very low-level waste (VLLW) by the end of 2028 and theconditions for the reuse of certain VLLW,▪ the definition of a strategy for the management of low-level long-lived waste (LLW-LL), in view of the significant
heterogeneity of this waste,▪ management of high-level and intermediate-level long-lived waste (HL-ILW-LL), including the implementation of the Cigéo
geological disposal project and the development of alternative management options to this type of disposal,▪ management of old uranium mines, legacy repositories as well as waste identified as requiring specific work to enable
their management,▪ cross-cutting ethics, governance, territories, and economy issues related to the management of radioactive materials
and waste.
Development based on public participation
For the first time, the development of the fifth PNGMDR was the subject of a public debate organized by the French National
Commission for Public Debate (CNDP), which took place from April 17 to September 25, 2019. Considering the lessons
learned from this debate, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN)
published the directions of the next plan in a decision dated February 21, 2021. Prior to consultation of the draft plan withthe population, a pluralist consultation, in particular in the form of a “guidance” committee, was organized by the MTE from
September 2020 to April 2021.

IRSN’s contribution to the development and implementation of the PNGMDRThe Institute is involved at several levels of its development and implementation, including:
Assessment of PNGMDR deliverables and the publication of notices
Available on the Institute’s website, these notices cover topics, such as the challenges of decommissioning nuclear
facilities, radioactive waste management methods, or risk management relating to former uranium mines. Sixteen notices
and reports were published by IRSN between 2009 and 2019.
Participation in the PNGMDR Implementation Monitoring Working GroupAs part of follow-up meetings, IRSN presented notably work on issues, such as the harmfulness of waste.
Scientific and technical advice to the PNGMDR “guidance” committee
IRSN provides scientific and technical advice to inform the committee on the areas within the Institute's scope.

IRSN is a French Stateowned industrial andcommercial establishment(EPIC) the missions, status,and operation of which are
determined by Articles L59245 to L592-49 and R592-39
to R592-61 of the French
Environment Code. IRSN isunder the joint supervision ofthe French Minister for theEnvironment, the French the
Minister of Defense, and theFrench Ministers of Energy,
Research, and Health.
As a public expert, IRSN
advances scientificknowledge to manage all
nuclear and radiation risks.
Through its research,
methods, and interactions
with all stakeholders, IRSN
assesses these risks andtheir consequences
independently. It thus
contributes to theirprevention, detection, andlimitation of their possible
effects, in order to protect
the population and theenvironment.

IRSN’s contribution to the public debate on the fifth PNGMDRIRSN experts contributed to the various stages of the public debate on the fifth PNGMDR by providing information fromtheir assessments and research with a view to enabling everyone to form their own opinion and, ultimately, to inform publicdecision.
Reporting
On May 15, 2019, IRSN submitted to Chantal Jouanno, chairwoman of the CNDP, two reports drawn up at her request:▪ the first is an analysis of the possibilities of dry storage of spent nuclear fuel. In particular, it concerns the compatibilityof certain mixed oxide (MOX) and enriched reprocessed uranium (ERU) fuels, currently stored underwater, with drystorage. It also discusses possible developments in current transport and dry storage concepts and the target values
for the maximum thermal output of the associated spent fuels;▪ the second is an international overview of research into alternatives to the geological disposal of HL-ILW-LL waste. Itidentifies the main alternatives to geological disposal, explored worldwide, to ensure the long-term management ofthese categories of waste. Among other things, it provides historical and scientific information to assess the context inwhich the various options emerged and were explored. It also identifies technical and societal issues to which theseoptions are associated.
A multifaceted contribution
In addition to the production of these reports, IRSN’s contribution was made according to different methods, dependingon the context and the audience concerned:▪ involvement in the process of clarification of technical controversies implemented by the CNDP. This brought together
representatives of the various stakeholders: waste producers, Andra, IRSN, as well as associations and non-institutionalexperts;▪ participation in all public debate events: four general public meetings, thirteen topical meetings, two “café-philo”-typediscussion fora, a round table, an opening meeting, and a debriefing and closing meeting;▪ provision of serious games, developed under the European SITEX project coordinated by IRSN, for a ‘Next generation
workshop’ bringing together around fifty students invited to think about long-term radioactive waste management
solutions;

Key figures of IRSN’sparticipation in thepublic debate▪ posting, on the IRSN website (www.irsn.fr), of documents on the knowledge and prevention of risks related toradioactive waste management: topical and summary information sheets, articles, etc.;▪ production of six podcasts to explain the technical issues of the debate;▪ organization of a press trip, including a visit to several Swiss nuclear waste and spent fuel management facilities aswell as to IRSN's underground research laboratory in Tournemire (southern France).

6 months of support
40 experts from 10 of theInstitute's units
2 reports
23 public events organizedby the French National
Commission for Public
Debate (CPDP)

Key lessons learned from the public debate: IRSN’s point of view
Four key lessons were learned from the public debate on the fifth PNGMDR:
the contribution of novel debate methods, such as the process of clarification of controversies and the ‘Next generation
workshop’. The first allowed the diversity of participants to be expressed in the development of arguments on some ofthe topics discussed, the second allowed the debate to be opened up and expression to be broadened beyond thestakeholders already involved in these subjects;
the relevance of creating the conditions for public appropriation of the information and data made available to it. Thiscan be done, among other things, by opening up expertise, in particular that of IRSN, and by maintaining a lasting andopen dialog between the various stakeholders;the major concerns expressed by participants in the public debate on certain technical themes: health and environmental
impacts, alternative options to underwater spent fuel storage and the Cigéo disposal project, as well as the impacts ofclimate change;
the importance of creating pluralistic dialogs where stakeholders discuss and identify their points of agreement anddisagreement and what remains to be investigated, both at national and regional levels.

Contact
jean-christophe.niel@irsn.fr
Tel. +33 (0)1 58 35 84 89