ASN Report 2017

173 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 Chapter 06  - Informing the public and other audiences * The Off-site Emergency Plan (“PPI” is its French acronym) is a specific emergency plan drawn up by the State addressing risks associated with the existence and operation of specific installations or structures. urgency of the need for information and the speed of dissemination of incorrect or incomplete information, etc. In such emergency situations, whether simulated or real, ASN takes care to ensure the consistency, speed and clarity of the information delivered, including when it is delivered by other players. 1.1.3 The ASN/IRSN exhibition As part of their duty to inform the public, ASN and IRSN have created an educational exhibition to develop knowledge of nuclear activities and radiation protection among high school pupils, students, employees, hospital personnel, patients, etc. and more generally the public at large. Comprising some 80 display boards, it is designed to provide information on radioactivity - whether natural or artificial - its uses, its implications and its effects on humans and the environment. Some ten thematic sequences can be combined to meet more specific information objectives. Through games, interactive media, videos, workshops, etc. the exhibition offers a comprehensive educational experience. The exhibition is loaned free of charge. It is modular, light, readily transported and sufficiently flexible to adapt to the spatial constraints of the hosting venues. In 2017, the exhibition was displayed in some sixty educational institutions and used as a support for conferences-debates, public meetings of Local Information Committees (CLIs), science fairs, etc. Loan requests are to be made to info@asn.fr 1.1.4 The ASN Information Centre Any citizen can address requests for information to ASN, either on-line (at the address info@asn.fr ), by letter or by telephone. In 2017, the centre responded to more than 1,500 requests on diverse questions (technical questions, requests for administrative documents, information relative to the environment, publications, documentary searches, etc.). FOCUS Significant progress in citizen mobilisation The aim of the information and iodine tablet distribution campaign launched in 2016 and continued in 2017 was to develop a risk awareness culture among the populations living in the vicinity of the nuclear power plants. The number of iodine tablet collections from pharmacies by individuals, companies and buildings open to the public increased with respect to the previous campaign in 2009. Over and beyond that objective, the campaign also intended to develop citizens’ awareness of the nuclear risk and knowledge of the means of protecting oneself against it. According to a survey by the BVA Institute in March-April 2017, the general public’s memorisation of the campaign attains 93% and knowledge of the reflex protection actions in the event of a nuclear alert is widespread. In 2018, taking account of the recent extension of the Off-site Emergency Plan (PPI*) radius from 10 to 20 km around the nuclear facilities, a campaign will be conducted in the new areas concerned to extend the risk awareness and the distribution of iodine tablets to the people living there. This campaign will be conducted by the local and national players (public authorities, health professionals, elected officials, EDF, Local Information Committees [CLIs], etc.). ASN will, on the strength its experience, assist the Ministry of the Interior in this procedure. The ASN Twitter account is followed by more than 8,000 subscribers: twitter.com/ASN.