12 Apr (NucNet): French nuclear safety authority (ASN) has issued a formal notice to Areva urging it to bring its fire permit practices at its La Hague nuclear fuel reprocessing complex into line with regulations within 15 days.
ASN said that following an inspection on 16 February 2012, it has ordered Areva to bring La Hague, in Normandy into line with regulations requiring permits for activities that pose a risk of fire.
The inspection highlighted “several serious gaps” in the way those regulations were followed at La Hague, where activities that could cause a fire are carried out in the course of maintenance and decommissioning, ASN said.
Previous inspections had already revealed problems in La Hague's fire permit issuance and ASN had already called for corrective actions.
According to ASN inspectors, fire permits did not conform to the site's general fire permit guidelines in three different workshops and measures taken did not follow guidelines.
In order to monitor the correct implementation of the regulations, for the next three months Areva will have to inform ASN of all fire permits issued for work in controlled zones at La Hague, ASN said.
