CNE2 on line
The Commission Nationale d'Evaluation, CNE2, was formed to carry out annual assessment of the progress made in research into the management of radioactive materials and waste. This assessment results in an annual report being written for the French Parliament, which is submitted to the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST). The report is then published.
Besides the French research assessed in relation to the guidelines established by the ‘National Plan for the management of radioactive materials and waste’ (PNGMDR), the report also looks at research conducted abroad.
Since its creation in 2006, the Board has produced six annual reports, the most recent one of which has just been published.
The CNE2 Board was formed by the Law of 28 June 2006, which lays down the provisions established in France for management of radioactive waste. It is the successor to the first Commission Nationale d'Evaluation, CNE1, founded by the Law of 31 December 1991 (see “Background”).
The Board has twelve members, chosen based on suggestions from the Académie des Sciences, the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques and the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (OPECST). Half of its membership is renewed every three years. The last renewal was on 22 July 2010 (see “Members”).
For its evaluation work, the Board conducts hearings for the organisations that conduct the research into management of radioactive materials and waste (see “Partners”). In order to encourage scientific discussion on this work, which is by nature multidisciplinary, each hearing is attended by the stakeholders involved (see “Partners”), the most important of which are: Andra which coordinates the research for areas 2 and 3 of the Law (reversible geological disposal and storage) and CEA which coordinates area 1 (partitioning-transmutation). According to the Law, the organisations must provide the Board with any information it deems necessary. In addition, and as required, the Board conducts hearing restricted to one organisation.
The Board performs technical visits (laboratories, industrial sites, research organisations) and attends conferences, both in France and abroad.
A dozen or so day-long hearings are held each year. One or two visits lasting between 2 and 5 days are organised each year, depending on current feeling and news from the installations.
The Board is independent and reports to Parliament. It is approached as and when required by OPECST or by the Government regarding any matters that fall under its scope. Each year, it presents the aspects of its report to the CLIS (local information and monitoring council) of the Bure laboratory.
The reports and opinions of CNE1 are available on this website. As soon as they are published, those of CNE2 are also available here.
