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AWE Burghfield documents

Date released
1 October 2024
Request number
202409042
Release of information under
Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Information requested

We are aware that you have granted AWE Burghfield permissions to keep using the current warhead assembly/disassembly facility after the initial expected shutdown date due to delays with project Mensa.

Can we have copies of any letters you have sent to any operators of nuclear licensed sites (as listed at Register of nuclear site licences) or the relevant local authority for each licensed site with regards to the adequacy of off-site emergency plans and Level 2 exercises in the last three years.

Information released

I can confirm that under s.1 of the FOIA, we do hold some of this information. Please see below for our response.

In accordance with The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 Regulation 11, it is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to prepare and maintain an adequate off-site emergency plan. As such, ONR engages with the local authorities regarding off-site arrangements rather than the operators of the associated nuclear licensed sites. 

ONR has reviewed the letters it has shared with relevant local authorities for the nuclear licensed sites indicated in the FOI request regarding the adequacy of off-site emergency plans and Level 2 exercises in the last three years and can confirm that we hold 11 such letters. These letters are attached and are prefixed with the relevant bullet point number from the below list.

  1. 2023/61771 - Off-Site Emergency Plan for the AWE Nuclear Licensed Sites - 29 Nov 2023. 
  2. 2022/68201 - Modular tests of AWE Off-Site Emergency Plan 2020/21/22 to WBDC 21 Nov 2022.
  3. 2023/19033 Testing of REPPIR Off-Site Emergency Plan: INDIGO 22 29 Mar 2023.
  4. 2023/18993 ONR-EPR-22-016 Testing of REPPIR Off-Site Emergency Plan: OSCAR 13 - 29 Mar 2023.
  5. 2022/0071466 ONR-EPR-22-012 Testing of REPPIR Off-Site Emergency Plan 7 Dec 2022.
  6. 2023/46065 ONR-EPR-23-002 - Confirmation of Final Date for Hartlepool Borough Council’s Test of the Off-Site Emergency Plan for Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station - 5 Sep 2023.
  7. 2022/59138 ONR-EPR-22-008 - Testing of REPPIR Off-Site Emergency Plan 10 Oct 2022.
  8. 2021/91565 ONR-EPR-21-056 Request for Extension of Testing Interval of the Torness Power Station Off-Site Emergency Plan exercise "CENTAURUS" (letter ref MP/JMcN). 21 Dec 2021.
  9. 2024/26941 - East Lothian Council’s Test of its Torness Nuclear Power Station Off-Site Emergency Plan 19 June 2024 - Exercise Puma.
  10. 2021/72647 ONR-EPR-21-054 Regulatory Advice on REPPIR19 testing regime - 1 Oct 2021.
  11. 2023/32350 : Cheshire West & Chester County Council - REPPIR Cycle Completion Letter – final.

It is important to note that we have removed some information from the attached documents as it is personal data. This consists of names, contact details, and signatures. Release of each of this type of information could identify the individual either directly or indirectly. The personal data has been withheld using exemption s.40(2) of the FOIA. Release of the information would breach principle (a) of GDPR (lawfulness, fairness and transparency) on the grounds that there is no lawful basis to process this data. In addition, releasing this personal data would also breach principle (b) of GDPR (purpose limitation) as the data was provided for the purposes of internal report authorship and circulation. 

Exemptions applied

s.40

PIT (Public Interest Test) if applicable

N/A