- Site: Dounreay
- IR number: 19-020
- Date: May 2019
- LC numbers: 11, 35
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This inspection was one of a planned series of inspections at the Dounreay licensed site, in accordance with the 2019/20 Integrated Intervention Strategy (IIS) for the site to confirm that the licensee, Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL), is controlling its hazards and complying with its statutory obligations.
This inspection included an assessment of the Site’s annual demonstration emergency exercise conducted under the requirements of LC11(5) [Emergency arrangements].
This inspection also included an examination of the site’s arrangements made under Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 and LC35 [Decommissioning]
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The focus for the LC35 inspection was to follow up the points raised at a previous inspection in July 2018. We examined the governance arrangements supporting the role and responsibilities of the new Strategic Programme Director implemented on 1 April 2019 and are satisfied that these provide an improved strategic overview and control of decommissioning projects across site. We also examined the baseline decommissioning plan and identified that the interdependencies between projects and on/off site capabilities have yet to be captured within the plan. This was borne out during our subsequent visit to DMTR where a number of key dependencies had not been identified on the plan. We are satisfied however, that these shortcomings are understood and are being managed at the project level via the programme change control process.
The inspection against the IRR17 focused on the progress to date in updating site’s arrangements against the requirements of IRR17. Based on the areas inspected, we are satisfied that DSRL’s corporate arrangements demonstrate adequate compliance against the requirements of the IRR17 and that documentation to reflect the revised IRR17 requirements has been implemented. During our plant visits we examined the local rules and found them all to have been updated to reflect the requirements of IRR17.
We observed and assessed the adequacy of the site’s annual Level 1 demonstration emergency exercise. We identified a number of specific areas where we require DSRL to provide a further demonstration of its arrangements. A letter will be sent to site in due course to confirm our findings of the exercise and our feedback on those areas where the site performed well and those areas identified for improvement.
Conclusion of Intervention
Overall, we consider that the arrangements and their associated implementation for LC35 and IRR17 for the areas inspected met with the required standards. We have identified a number of specific areas where we require DSRL to provide a further demonstration of their arrangements against the requirements of LC11. We did not identify any matter impacting on nuclear safety that required any further immediate regulatory action.