The building of a Pluralist Expertise Group about uranium mines in Limousin(France)

摘要

Uranium mining and milling industry once played a major strategic and economic role in France. After thedefinitive cessation of mining and milling activity in 2001, more than 200 sites are currently under closure andpost-closure phases. Decisions required in this frame raise particular difficulties because of the sensitivity ofsome technical issues and the strong scrutiny and requirements of local and national NGOs. This isparticular true in Limousin, the region that stands for the cradle and the heart of the national uranium history.In order to deal with this complex and disputed topic, the ministries of environment, health and industryrecently decided to set up a pluralist expertise group with the aim to come to analyze and give a critical pointof view on the various technical documents prepared by AREVA NC about the surveillance and control of itsmining sites in the department of Haute-Vienne in the Limousin region and than provide recommendations topublic authorities to improve current situation.