19 Jul (NucNet): A solution containing uranium leaked from a defective underground pipe at Areva’s Franco Belge de Fabrication du Combustible (FBFC) site at Romans-sur-Isere in the Drome department of south-eastern France.
Areva said in a statement on 18 July 2008 that monitoring measures have shown the incident has had no impact on the environment. The amount of uranium that leaked from the pipe is still being assessed.
The defective pipe was discovered during a maintenance operation last week. The pipe connects a CERCA (Compagnie pour l’Etude et la Realisation de Combustibles Atomiques) fuel fabrication facility to a treatment station. CERCA is also an Areva subsidiary.
The pipe was isolated and shut down by work teams, and the local authorities and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) were notified.
ASN said it had sent three inspectors to the plant. The inspectors said that according to the operator the pipe had become defective several years ago.
ASN has provisionally classified the incident as level 1 on the International Nuclear Evens Scale (INES).
CERCA Romans fabricates fuel elements for research reactors. The FBFC Romans facility produces uranium dioxide powder and pellets, nozzles, fuel rods and fuel assemblies for pressurised water reactor units.
Both companies are subsidiaries of the Areva group and share laboratory and effluent treatment facilities on the Romans-sur-Isere site.
On 7 July 2008, a solution containing 12 grams of natural uranium per litre leaked into the rainwater drainage system at the Socatri uranium recovery and cleanup facility near Tricastin in southern France. Socatri is also an Areva subsidiary.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Safety Inspectors at French Site After Release Of Natural Uranium Solution (News No. 54, 10 July 2008)
‘Special Surveillance’ To Continue At France’s Tricastin Site (World Nuclear Review No. 26, 11 July 2008)
Areva Says There Was ‘Lack of Coordination’ At Tricastin Site (World Nuclear Review No. 27, 18 July 2008)
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