EDF_REGISTRATION_DOCUMENT_2017

3.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL INFORMATION − HUMAN RESOURCES Optimising the use of natural resources and preserving the environment

Creating local value The Group is committed to creating local value in all of its electricity generation projects, to preserving water resources and to assessing the sustainability of its hydroelectric projects by drawing on the Sustainability protocol of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) which came into force in 2017, through: the continued application of the IHA protocol and the active contribution to the ■ biennal international conference of the IHA in May 2017 in Ethiopia; the application, in France, of the “One river, one region” programme, with the ■ participation of seven branches; The creation of a new agency is being studied in French Guyana; Presentation at World Water Week held in Stockholm in 2017 of EDF’s work and ■ commitment in the areas of water and climate; Contribution to the first COP 23 Water Day with the PFE (French partnership for ■ water). 3.4.3 The materiality matrix identifies soil pollution among the most material issues (issue no. 22 Management of milieux: soil and water pollution). This refers to the management of pollution and contamination risks that are likely to cause biological, physical and chemical changes in land and aquatic milieux, and to their effects on health. As part of its industrial and tertiary activities, the Group owns, or uses under concession, large land assets. This is why the environmental policies of the various Group entities aim to optimise the use of this land and protect soil and groundwater against any impact. The use of soil is the subject of a detailed description of actions related to biodiversity (see section 3.4.5 “Management of biodiversity and protection of environmental capital”). Preventing impacts 3.4.3.1 The prevention of impacts is based on an “in-depth defence” approach. The following protection methods are in place at all industrial sites, specifically: maintaining the integrity of means of protection to provide a barrier between ■ circuits containing or carrying radioactive or chemical substances and the environment; control of operations, management of effluents, their transfer and storage prior ■ to release; maintaining and inspecting ultimate structures such as sumps, retention systems, ■ unloading areas and pipes; ensuring that the soil surface remains free from radiological and/or chemical ■ contamination at industrial sites; monitoring the physico-chemical and/or radiological properties of groundwater ■ directly beneath sites; building retention tanks at storage sites for products and materials that could ■ pollute the soil; reinforcing safeguards when transporting fuel or waste (suitable containers); ■ ensuring the availability of emergency kits in the event of spillages and carrying ■ out the corresponding drills; developing operational procedures and high levels of awareness among ■ operators and service providers through suitable training. The Sustainable Development Policy adopted at Group level stipulates that for each activity presenting a risk of pollution, a soil and groundwater management approach including pollution prevention must be launched before 2019. SOIL POLLUTION

Optimising soil use 3.4.3.2 The Group’s industrial activities may entail some localised soil pollution. Action plans are in place to control these situations across all of the Group’s sites. They consist of four stages: site surveys; identification of those that are potentially polluted; soil analysis on potentially polluted sites (sensitive areas first); introducing a monitoring system for sources of pollution and drawing up a management plan, and considering possible remediation depending on future use and regulatory requirements. In 2017, several studies were produced related to the preparation of baseline reports in response to the European IED Directive: they are in Phase II for Cordemais, Brennilis, Vaires and Phase I for Le Havre, Arrighi, Dirinon, Genneviliers, Montereau, Blénod, Bouchain and Martigues, as well as for the IES and PEI sites, with no discovery of any significant contamination. The “soil background” surveys have also been completed at the Paluel, Saint Alban and Flamanville nuclear sites, on all the sites of SOFILO and at EDF Luminus (Monsin, Ringvaart and Ham). As part of the safety re-assessments, the Cattenom, Saint Alban and Paluel soil condition was assessed and did not show any significant marking. Soil cleaning actions are in progress and have already been completed at EDF Luminus (Monsin), in the Nuclear Generation Division (Chinon, Flamanville, Blayais) and the Real Estate Division (Cahors, Villers Semeuse, Marc en Bareuil, Saint Malo and Buzancay). To reduce the probability of pollution, the Group uses its considerable synergies to replace hazardous products with products that are less harmful to the environment and public health, where this is technically feasible. With this in mind, EDF SA, Enedis and Électricité de Strasbourg are continuing with their programmes to decontaminate equipment containing PCBs (1) and PCTs (2) of more than 50 ppm. These action plans continued in 2017 are on target. Approximately 8,000 devices polluted with more than 50 ppm of PCB will have been decontaminated or eliminated by Enedis in 2017 in line with the 50% target at 31/12/2019 and total elimination at 31/12/2025. EDF R&D, EDF IES, EDF PEI, SOCODEI, DALKA and the thermal generation sites no longer have any equipment surpassing the threshold. Furthermore, action plans are underway to limit exposure to phytosanitary products (e.g. zero phytosanitary product project at the Mediterranean generation unit of EDF’s Hydropower Generation Division which is being developed in the other hydropower units). The DIG has set a target of “zero phytosanitary products” by 2020 across the 640 service sites with green spaces. At end September 2017, the 2017 target of 535 sites was achieved in line with the progress envisaged for this plan. These action plans are based on alternatives to the use of chemical (mechanical, thermal or other) herbicides, vegetation management protocols for EDF EN (non-use of pesticides, differentiated management of vegetation, sheep, etc.) as well as on rules relating to companies in charge of maintaining their green spaces, with the long term goal of abandoning the use of phytosanitary products altogether. They are accompanied by a training and awareness-raising programme. Some entities no longer use these products (EDISON, EDF Luminus, Norte Fluminense, DIPNN). ÉS has abandoned all glyphosate-based products. 3.4.4 The materiality matrix identifies air quality among its material issues (issue no. 23 Air quality). This refers to the management of air pollution from the Group’s facilities (SO x , NO x , fine particles, toxins, etc.), and their effects on health. The use of electricity has the advantage of not polluting the atmosphere; however, as part of its activities, the Group may have an impact on air quality. This is mainly the case where electricity generation is concerned, while its impact on air quality varies according to the generation facility in question. Significant investments have therefore been made to the EDF group’s thermal power plants, coal-fired in particular, to limit their emissions of atmospheric pollutants. EDF SA is engaged in a process of gradual closure of its thermal power plants. 3,800MW capacity from fuel-fired power plants were closed in 2017. AIR (3)

PCBs: polychlorinated biphenyls. (1) PCTs: polychlorinated terphenyls. (2) Air emissions, excluding CO 2 (3)

emissions.

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EDF I Reference Document 2017