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France’s experience in the management of radioactive waste is supported by forty years of operational activities in the field of surface disposal. This feedback is related to three disposal facilities: Centre de la Manche disposal, not far away Cherbourg, from design to post-closure facility. Centre at Soulaines-Dhuys from site selection to design to operation during nearly 20 years. Centre at Morvilliers from site selection to operation for seven years now. During the operational period of Centre de la Manche disposal facility (1969–1994), the safety concept for low- and intermediate level short lived waste (LIL-SLW) was developed and progressively incorporated in the procedures of the facility. The facility entered its institutional control period and the experience of this facility has been useful for the operating facilities. Centre de l’Aube that took over Centre de la Manche, and Morvilliers for very low level wastes. Both facilities currently accommodate the major part of the volume of radioactive wastes that are generated in France. However disposal facilities have to be considered as rare resources. Then new waste management options are being investigated as the disposal of large components or recycling metallic wastes within the nuclear industry.

On December 1991, the French National Assembly passed the French Waste Management Research Act, authorizing a 15 year research program of three options for HLW: separation and/or transmutation, long-term storage, and geologic disposal. On June 2006, the “Planning Act on the sustainable management of radioactive materials and waste” sets a new framework and new aims to the above mentioned options. This paper deals only with the geologic disposal research program. In a step by step approach, this program has been broken down into three phases having intermediate goals (objectives): site selection for an Underground research Laboratory (URL), potential disposal feasibility, potential reversible disposal design. The first step of the research program aimed at URL site selection. From 1994 to 1996, Andra carried out geological-characterization work in four districts. This enabled to make the Request for Licensing and Operation of the laboratory facility on three sites. During this phase, wells, 2D seismic campaigns and land studies of geologic outcrops were the essential activities. The result was the selection of the most suitable site for the implementation of an underground laboratory. Main results on Bure URL will be presented in the paper. In the second phase the research program targeted the safety and technical feasibility of a potential reversible disposal somewhere in Meuse and Haute Marne districts site, chosen by the government in 1998. Andra conducted geologic survey during the URL shaft construction and experiments in drifts at depths of 445 and 490 m. This program allowed consolidating the knowledge already acquired: geological environment, stability of the rock, containment properties and it confirms that the rock will maintain its qualities. The 2005 Progress Report presents the results of this phase. The main conclusion is that a potential disposal facility may be safely constructed over a zone around the URL, called transposition zone (about 250 km2). The paper will present the most important results in this phase. From 2006, the third phase of the program, the activities were oriented, inside the transposition zone, to determine a smaller zone in which a potential disposal facility could be designed. In 2009, Andra issued a proposal describing such a zone to the French authorities. In this paper, the main results of this phase will be presented. Finally, the next steps towards a final implementation will be given.

In France, a framework has been drawn up by the National Assembly and implemented by the government, in order to get the best relationship between Andra, among others, and the stakeholders and the inhabitants of the towns and countries where disposal facilities or projects are or could be established. The main threads of the two Acts passed in 2006, being relevant to the relationship with inhabitants are the information exchange and the local economic development. Dealing with the information exchange and diffusion: • The Local Information Committee (CLI), for each nuclear facility, has been reinforced and a specific, Local Information and Oversight Committee (for the Underground Laboratory in Meuse-Haute-Marne) has been renewed. The CLI was in charge of a general assignment to inform and consult on nuclear safety, radioprotection and environmental topics. Now, since 2006, the nuclear facility’s CLI and the CLIS are able to order study reports, measures and analyses to experts freely selected. • Creation of the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety (HCTISN). This new authority aims to inform, consult and debate about the risks relevant to nuclear activities and their impacts on people’s health, environment and nuclear safety. Andra contributes to the functioning of CLI in disposal facilities at Manche and Aube Departments, and CLIS of the underground Laboratory at Meuse and Haute-Marne departments. This paper will present these contributions and how Andra’s action helps to reach the goals of information and exchange with the people around its facilities. Concerning the local economic development, there are specific organizations or schemes, depending on the facility: • Local taxes contributions based on the disposal facilities activities as is usual in France. • A High Level Committee (CHN) and two public interest groups (GIP) in Meuse and Haute-Marne departments have been set up since 1991 and 2005. Andra is represented in these three institutions, but they are not funded at all by Andra. This paper will show the Andra’s involvement in the local economic and territorial developments. Within this general framework Andra has developed information and exchanges actions with the stakeholders and the inhabitants around its facilities. Examples of these actions will be presented also.