Autorité de sûreté nucléaire

The Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (English: Nuclear Safety Authority, ASN) is an independent French administrative authority set up by law 2006-686 of 13 June 2006 concerning nuclear transparency and safety. Its task, on behalf of the State, is to regulate nuclear safety and radiation protection in order to protect workers, patients, the public and the environment from the risks involved in nuclear activities. It also contributes to informing the citizens.

The president of the ASN is André-Claude Lacoste^[1] who is also a founding member and has been chairman of the International Nuclear Regulators’ Association (INRA) and the Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association (WENRA).^[2] He is also the chairman of the Commission on Safety Standards (CSS) of the IAEA.

During the events regarding the Fukushima I nuclear power plant, the ASN stated that they believed the events unfolding should be rated a 5 or even a 6 on the International Nuclear Event Scale when the Japan Atomic Energy Agency had listed them a day before as a level 4 event. Later on they said they believed the situation had surpassed that of a level 5 event and moved to a level 6. Their opinion was shared by the Finnish nuclear authorities^[3].

References

1. ^ André-Claude Lacoste on aciers.free.fr (English)
2. ^ WENRA website
3. ^ taken from Fukushima I nuclear accidents page

External links

• Official website (in English)