The environmental monitoring program

Ongoing testing of rejections

Ongoing testing makes it possible to measure the level of rejections in real time, in order to rapidly implement corrective actions where needed.

Gaseous emissions

Gaseous emissions are permanently monitored on three levels:

• Measures of stack emissions,
• Measures at plant barriers,
• Measures of the five &uot;village stations&uot; situated a few kilometers from the plant.

Liquid emissions

Liquid emissions are treated and filtered in order to extract radioactive and chemical elements. After treatment, wastes are tested, and are only rejected if the measurements demonstrate that they meet the levels set by waste authorizations.

Marine monitoring

Marine monitoring extends from Granville to Barfleur. Offshore samples are taken by the French Navy, which collects sediment on a quarterly basis from ocean sand and water.

Marine flora and fauna are monitored through monthly sampling of algae and marine products (limpets, mussels, oysters, crabs, and fish).

These samples are performed by AREVA teams

Coastal waters

A quarterly sample of seawater is taken off the coast (Pointe de Jardeheu, Cap de la Hague, Nez de Jobourg). A daily sample is taken in Goury as well as in Anse des Moulinets.

Sand, sediment

• Quarterly sampling operations of marine sediment are performed off the coast at 8 points.
• Quarterly samplings of beach sand are carried out at different points on the coast from Granville to Barfleur.

Algae

Numerous species of algae live on the coasts of the English Channel, Fucus (kelp) being the most widespread species. Quarterly samples are taken at low tide, as low on the foreshore as possible in order to collect the algae that has spent the most time in seawater.

Mollusks, fish, crustaceans

• Crustaceans: they constitute an important species for the calculation of the impact of liquid wastes from the facility. Crabs and lobsters are bought from local fishers and analyses are carried out on their meat.
• Fish: fish are bought from local fishers and analyses are carried out on their meat (dogfish, conger, ha, ballan wrasse, razorbill, ray, plaice, sole).
• Coquilles Saint-Jacques: quarterly samplings are carried out in the harbor of Cherbourg by the French Navy and then analyzed.
• Limpets: samplings of limpets (also known as "berniques" or "Chinese Hats") are performed quarterly at 13 points along the coasts of the English Channel.
• Oysters: there are two principal oyster culture sites in the department of La Manche, on the west coast of Granville in Portbail and primarily around Blainville, on the west coast in St-Vaast-la-Hougue. Oyster sampling is performed alongside oyster farmers and then analyzed.
• Mussels: quarterly samplings are carried out in two zones situated along the East and West coasts of the Cotentin Peninsula. IFREMER- the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea monitored mussels that were specially placed in the foreshore zone near Port de Goury and Anse des Moulinets. In the analysis of the 2008 results, IFREMER states
  "In conclusion, for 2008 we do not observe any chronic effect of the industrial activity of the AREVA plant in La Hague as a result of the parameters studied."

Land-based monitoring

Surface waters (streams)

Several types of tests were carried out in streams:

• Water testing: daily testing for the stream of Ste-Helène; monthly testing for the streams of Moulinets, Combes, and Landes; radiological monitoring of 15 other sites and streams from the plateau of La Hague.
• Quarterly testing of sediments from four streams: Ste-Helène, Moulinets, Combes, and Landes.
• Weekly testing of aquatic plant life from three streams: Ste-Helène, Combes, and Landes.

No activity has been detected on the suspended materials from the water of these streams.

It is nonetheless possible to observe residual marking:

• Tritium marking in the water of the stream of Ste-Helène, due to the release of tritium in the 1970s by the ANDRA storage facility.
• Beta marking in the water of the stream of Landes, due to the presence of beta activity (SR 90) in the water table to the north-west of the facility.

Milk

Milk samplings are carried out every month in five farms neighboring the facility. The principal radio element observed in milk is potassium 40 which is of natural origin.

These measurements are carried out exclusively on cow milk supplied by local producers originating from farms selected by the French Nuclear Safety Authority. 

Grass

Sampling is also performed on surrounding grass. Its natural activity in Potassium 180 is around 200 Bq/kg moist.

Annual campaigns for sampling and analysis are carried out on agricultural production sites of La Hague. These campaigns focus on various vegetables, meat, and foods (eggs, honey, cider...) intended for human consumption.

The total beta activity observed is essentially due to potassium 40, which is a natural radio element. Natural activity in potassium 40 is as follows:

• 10 Bq per liter for mineral water,
• 50 Bq per liter for milk.