- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-168
- Date: February 2022
- LC numbers: 32, 35
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This inspection was carried out at Sellafield Ltd. Flask Maintenance Facility. It was a planned inspection identified on the 2021/22 inspection schedule. The inspection focused on the requirements of Licence Condition 32 (Accumulation of Radioactive Waste) and the disposals route from the facility and Licence Condition 35 (Decommissioning) regarding the future plans to repurpose the facility when the new flask facility is fully functional.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
This inspection focused on compliance against Licence Condition 32 and 35. It comprised of discussions with staff and review of documents plus an inspection of the facility.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
Not applicable as this was not a System Based Inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
Local arrangements in the facilities met the site wide requirements for the storage, inventory and inspection of solid wastes. However, regulatory advice was given regarding the storage of combustible waste within the facility. Additional advice was provided regarding the use of storage containers located outside the building used to cure empty paint tins from flask maintenance processes before being disposed of. The facility management highlighted that within the footprint of the facility, was a storage chamber containing old pile cap filters as identified in the facility HAZAN. At the time of the inspection, the facility management was unsure of the owner of this chamber and contents. [Post meeting note, the Operation Manager confirmed that the Flask Maintenance Facility was the custodian of this chamber]. Subsequently, I have raised a level 4 (lowest level) Regulatory Issue with respect to the inventory of the chamber, risks posed by the chamber and planning for its decommissioning.
On balance, based on the evidence sampled as part of this inspection, I judged that the required standard is met and an inspection rating of Green (one Level 4 RI raised) was appropriate against LC32.
Regarding LC35. The facility is in the pre-planning stages of post operational clean out operations. An outline plan taken from the Sellafield Limited Site Master schedule was reviewed and discussed. The arrangements meet the site requirements. It was noted that the Sellafield Limited Site Master schedule also included the storage chamber with a nominal plan of two years to empty and remediate it. This raised the question on how this was assessed but I noted the task was still 10 years plus away and additional assessment work has been identified as part of the overall master schedule.
On balance, based on the evidence sampled as part of this inspection, (one formal action has been raised as part of the above Regulatory issue). I judged that the required standard is met and an inspection rating of Green was appropriate against LC35.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on the evidence sampled I consider that an inspection rating of Green was appropriate. One level 4 (lowest level) Regulatory Issue has been raised to ensure that the inventory of the storage chamber which is located within the facility footprint is recorded in the facility waste inventory and the risk of the material is assessed and shared with the site master planners. Additionally, advice was given regarding the use of the storage bins outside of the building along with the location of an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC).