- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-004
- Date: April 2021
- LC numbers: 22
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) undertakes all regulatory interaction with the Sellafield site licensee (Sellafield Limited (SL)) against a strategy defined by the ONR Sellafield, Decommissioning, Fuel and Waste (SDFW) Division. The planned inspection schedule for 2021/22 identifies the Licence Conditions (LCs) that will be inspected during this period.
The purpose of this inspection was for ONR to determine the adequacy of implementation of SL’s arrangements for compliance with LC 22 (Modification or experiment on existing plant) at the Spent Fuel Services Fuel Storage Facilities (formally the Oxide Fuel Storage Group).
The overall adequacy of SL's site-wide LC 22 arrangements is considered separately in other ONR interventions.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
I, the site inspector for Fuel Storage carried out a planned LC 22 compliance inspection at the Spent Fuel Services Fuel Storage Facilities. The inspection focused on:
- A review of modifications or experiments undertaken at Fuel Storage since April 2019 to seek assurance that the SL corporate LC 22 arrangements had been followed;
- The competence of individuals managing modifications or experiments;
- A plant walkdown to determine if the status of modifications or experiments was adequately recorded on plant.
The inspection comprised discussions with SL staff, a review of records, the sampling of information contained within electronic databases and other documentation and a plant walkdown of the Advanced Gas Reactor Storage Pond (AGRSP).
I also followed up on an earlier event, where an alarm had activated while operations were being undertaken at the AGRSP, to seek assurance that improvements identified at SL’s investigation had been made. I found that improvements had been implemented.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable since this was not a safety system based inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
I found that overall Spent Fuel Services Fuel Storage has adequately implemented the Sellafield arrangements for LC 22. Several minor shortfalls were identified, and regulatory advice was given.
My findings were shared with, acknowledged by, and accepted by the Senior Operations Manager for Fuel Storage as part of normal inspection feedback.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on the evidence sampled at the time of the inspection, and cognisant of a number of minor shortfalls, I judge that Spent Fuel Services Fuel Storage has adequately implemented SL’s arrangements for LC 22. Noting the ONR guidance on inspection ratings, it is my opinion that an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) is merited.