Radiological environmental monitoring of nuclear sites

Overview

ABSTRACT

Every basic nuclear power plant is monitored at the environmental level by regulations or provisions on water withdrawals and authorization of discharges. The aim of these controls is to verify that the authorizations of discharges are respected and detect, as soon as possible, any abnormal evolution. On its part, the environmental monitoring allows for verifying the absence of radiological impact in the various receiving environments and in the food chain. This article is dedicated to the methods utilized by the nuclear operators in order to measure the discharges from the facilities and their radioactive impact on the environment.

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AUTHORS

Jean-Christophe VARIN: Director of Quality, Safety, Security and Environment at AREVA NC's La Hague plant
Hervé DEGUETTE: Head of Environmental Radiation Monitoring at the AREVA NC La Hague facility

INTRODUCTION

Radiological monitoring of the environment around a basic nuclear facility (INB) must include :

control of radioactive discharges ;
monitoring the impact of discharges into the environment.

All sampling and associated measurements are described in a monitoring program drawn up by the nuclear operator. It includes all regulatory requirements, and may be supplemented by additional measures at the operator's initiative.

In terms of environmental monitoring, each basic nuclear facility is governed by regulations or provisions concerning water abstraction and discharge authorizations.

For each nuclear facility, these regulations detail the authorization limits for gaseous and liquid discharges (in terms of quantity and/or concentration), as well as the various samples to be taken at discharge facilities and in the environment. They may also define the necessary monitoring resources, and the procedures for disseminating results to stakeholders and local information commissions (CLI).

This report is limited to the methods used by nuclear operators to measure releases from their facilities and their radioactive impact on the environment, and to detect any abnormal changes in the environment and in releases. It is not intended to detail the instrumental techniques used for these measurements. Readers wishing to know more about the technology used for radiological measurement of radioactive effluents and the environment may refer to the following dossiers: