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Transport Emergency Demonstration Exercise "PEGASUS"

  • Site: Torness
  • IR number: 21-011
  • Date: May 2021
  • LC numbers: N/A

Executive summary

Purpose of Intervention

This intervention was carried out by Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to assess whether EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited (NGL) had taken all reasonable steps to arrange, for all those with a role in their transport emergency plan required under the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009), to participate to such an extent necessary to ensure the test of the plan was considered effective.

Intervention Carried Out by ONR

CDG 2009, Schedule 2, Part 1 Radiological Emergency, Paragraph 5: Review and Testing of Emergency Plan, requires duty-holders involved in the carriage of class 7 dangerous goods to:

  • Review and, where necessary, revise their transport emergency plan,
  • Test their transport emergency plan, taking reasonable steps to arrange for all those with a role in the emergency plan to participate in the test to such extent necessary to ensure that the test is effective.

CDG 2009 states the duration between testing the emergency plan should not exceed three years.  NGL test their transport emergency plan annually with Torness Power Station staging the 2021 transport emergency exercise "PEGASUS".

Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate

Not Applicable

Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made

Due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and the need to minimise the spread of this virus, NGL’s test of its transport emergency plan was carried out as a desk-top exercise.  NGL provided live play at the following locations which ONR Inspectors observed to confirm the effectiveness of the test:

  • Notification of a transport incident to Torness Power Station’s Central Control Room, and establishment of the Station’s Emergency Control Centre. Here effective command and control were demonstrated.
  • The incident location to evaluate Torness RadSafe response team interface with Local Authority Emergency Services in providing advice and guidance.
  • The Barnwood Central Emergency Support Centre (CESC) to assess timely establishment of CESC and effective command and control with development of a transport recovery plan.

The incident location was staged at East Lothian Council’s Strategic Control Centre, Penston House.  NGL produced a model of the incident to allow Local Authority emergency services (Police, Fire brigade and Ambulance) to understand the situation given the hazards posed from transport of a package containing radioactive material.  This allowed them to initiate their response to the situation they were faced with.

Based on observations made by the ONR Inspectors it was considered NGL had simulated all the roles within its CDG 2009 transport emergency plan.

Conclusion of Intervention

The Lead ONR Inspector concluded that NGL had undertaken an effective test of its CDG 2009 transport emergency plan, with all reasonable steps taken to demonstrate all the roles within their plan.  The test was considered to have met requirements of CDG 2009 Schedule 2, Part 1 Radiological Emergency, Paragraph 5: Review and Testing of Emergency Plan.