The Safeguards On-Site Laboratory at La Hague June 2000 – June 2006: Six Years of Operational Experience

In June 2000, hence eight years after the European Commission had taken the decision to build safeguards on-site laboratories at the site of the two main commercial European reprocessing plants, the second EURATOM laboratory, the “Laboratoire Sur Site” (LSS) located at the site of COGEMA (Areva group) at Cap de La Hague was inaugurated [1, 2]. The Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) had installed and commissioned the analytical facilities and has performed the safeguards analyses taken in the plant. This work is carried out in the framework of EURATOM safeguards under the responsibility of the Directorate General for Transport and Energy (DG TREN). This paper summarizes six years of operational experience gained in the LSS. This description includes organizational aspects and technical features, covering aspects of laboratory management, sample handling, measurement quality and reference materials. The observations made during this period and the changes introduced will be discussed. We will review the application of measurement techniques: on the one hand the radiometric instruments which are automated to be able to measure the whole throughput of samples and on the other hand the Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS). Their different roles and the performances reached will be highlighted. Furthermore, the different analytical problems ITU analysts had to face and the improvements implemented to reach the challenging target: performing accurate analysis for safeguards purposes on a timeliness basis. Finally, we will discuss logistical questions, aspects of interfacing with the operator and with the inspectors and the efficient use of resources.