0.732.323.491

Exchange of letters of 5/20 November 2008

Between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic concerning the field and the details of the alert and/or transmission of information in the event of minor or accidental events in the nuclear power plant Fessenheim or in
Swiss nuclear power stations in Beznau, Gösgen, Leibstadt and Mühleberg

Entered into force on 20 November 2008

(State on 20 November 2008)

Original text

The Prefet of the Upper Rhine	Colmar, 20 November 2008
	Mr.
	Willi Scholl
	Director of the Federal Office
	Protection of the population
	Monjewstrasse 51A
	CH-3003 Berne

Mr. Director,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 5 November 2008, the contents of which are as follows:

" I have the honour to bring to your knowledge the following.

In accordance with Art. 13 of the Agreement of 30 November 1989 between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic on the exchange of information in the event of an incident or accident which may have radiological consequences ¹ (hereinafter "Agreement") and c. III of the Exchange of Letters of 30 November 1989 between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic (hereinafter 'the Exchange of Letters'), the Swiss competent authorities propose to determine the field and the modalities of The alert and/or transmission of information in the event of minor or accidental events in the Electricity Production Centre in Fessenheim or in the Swiss nuclear power plants of Beznau, Gösgen, Leibstadt and Mühleberg, As follows. The purpose of this report is independent of the exchange of information and does not replace the commitments of States under the International Convention on the Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident ² , adopted September 26, 1986, at 30 ^E Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

I.

Minor events without radiological consequences (Article 12 of the Agreement and c. III of the Exchange of Letters):

The Préfecture du Haut-Rhin-Service Interministerial de Défense et de Protection Civile-transmits to the Central National d' alarm the situation messages of the Centre Nucléaire de Production d' Electricité de Fessenheim, as well as the press releases of The press it is addressed to. The National Alarm Centre transmits these messages to the cantonal authorities concerned.

The National Alarm Generating Station shall transmit to the High Rhine Prefecture the same level of knowledge relating to the Swiss nuclear power stations.

II.

Accidental situations with radiological or other consequences I Able to have (Article 1 of the Agreement and c. I and II of the Exchange of Letters):

The following procedures shall apply notwithstanding the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement.

II.A.

The High Rhine Prefecture alerts, by fax, the Cantonal Police of Basel-Ville, the alert head for the border cantons, and the National Emergency Centre for the outbreak of the Internal Emergency Plan of the Nuclear Electricity Production Centre From Fessenheim and the implementation of the Action Plan.

II.B.

The Préfecture du Haut-Rhin transmits at regular intervals to the National Central d' alarm all technical information from the Centre Nucléaire de Production d' Electricité de Fessenheim of which it has, the press releases of The operator and the authorities, the decisions taken by the Director of Operations of Secours:

-

Directly by fax;

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By the State-Major crisis of the Regierungspräsidium of Fribourg, as soon as it is activated and has given its consent.

II.C.

Conversely, the National Central Alarm alarm alerts and informs the High Rhine Prefecture directly in the event of a similar incident or accident on a Swiss nuclear power station.

II.D.

Conversely, the National Alarm Center transmits by fax and/or its website at regular intervals to the Prefecture of Colmar all technical information from the Swiss plants available to it, the press releases Of the operator and the authorities, as well as the decisions taken by the Director of Operations of Secours.

II.

Further clarification may be provided by direct contact between the competent authorities.

II.F.

The prefecture of Haut-Rhin and the National alarm station keep informed the competent national authorities.

II.G.

With the exception of validated press releases, the information exchanged in this context is confidential, for the exclusive use of the competent national authorities who receive them. However, each party providing the information may notify the other party of the confidentiality of certain information.

III.

The exchange of information between the prefecture of Haut-Rhin and the national alarm station is preferably in French.

IV.

The telephone and fax numbers are attached. It is the responsibility of each entity to keep them up to date and to inform the competent authorities.

V.

The review of the implementation of these procedures will be carried out on a periodic basis and, for the first time, one year after their entry into force.

I would be grateful if you could tell me whether these proposals met with the consent of the French competent authorities. In application of the c. III of the Exchange of Letters, this letter and your reply will therefore constitute an agreement between the competent national authorities which will enter into force on the date of receipt of your reply. It will remain in effect for as long as the Exchange of Letters."

In reply, I have the honour to inform you that the above meets the consent of the French competent authorities and that your letter of 5 November 2008 and this reply will constitute, in application of the c. III of the Exchange of Letters, an agreement between the competent national authorities which will enter into force on the date of receipt of this reply, namely 20 November 2008. It will remain in effect for as long as the Exchange of Letters.

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RO 2009 515