- Site: Non-site specific
- IR number: 21-039 (SAF)
- Date: March 2022
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This inspection was one of a number of planned inspections at Magnox Ltd (ML) facilities during 2021/22, developed in accordance with the ONR Safeguards Sub-Division Strategy. The purpose of this Accountancy Focused Compliance Inspection was to assess the dutyholder’ s compliance with the requirements of the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19), specifically regulations 6 (including Schedule 2), 9, 10, 11, 12, and 29; and to provide confidence to ONR that the operator is making adequate operating and accounting arrangements, traceable to the accounting reports, and underpinned by suitable Nuclear Materials Accountancy and Control (NMAC) systems and procedures.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
This intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance (as described in the relevant technical inspection guides, which can be found on ONR’ s website (https://www.onr.org.uk).
As part of my preparation for the delivery of this intervention, the following formal ONR guidance documentation was used:
- ONR-CNSS-MAN-001 Issue 5 - ONR Guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS)
- SG-INSP-GD-001 Revision 3 - Safeguards Technical Inspection Guide (TIG)
- SG-TAST-GD-002 Revision 1 Nuclear Material Accountancy (TAG)
The inspection targeted the completeness and correctness of the operating and accounting arrangements, records and source documentation underpinning a sample of transactions declared in the accountancy reports received by ONR for this Qualifying Nuclear Facility. The inspection also sampled evidence for the adequate implementation of dutyholder’s accountancy arrangements by competent personnel, and whether these arrangements are delivering the expected outcomes.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The inspection comprised of discussions with dutyholder, review of plant records and source documentation with a plant walkdown of B55 Treated Radwaste Store (TRS) facility, including verification of a sample of records for retained waste drums scheduled for onward shipment to the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) at Drigg.
Based on the evidence sampled, I am satisfied that dutyholder has adequate operating and accounting arrangements/records that are traceable and underpin the declarations within the accountancy reports submitted to ONR in accordance with Regulation 10, 11, 12 and 29 of NSR19.
I reviewed the process of the dutyholder’s transfers through their Accountancy and Tracking of Materials (ATOM) database. Based on the discussions with the Nuclear Materials Accountancy and Safeguards Manager (NMAS), the appointed person for this role showed adequate knowledge and understanding for the control of nuclear material tracking in accordance with FSE 7 Nuclear materials tracking and FSE 8 Data capabilities of ONMACS. I am satisfied that the arrangements adequately meet the requirements of Regulation 6 (including Schedule 2) of NSR19.
I provided the dutyholder with regulatory advice covering minor shortfalls in their arrangements in accordance with nuclear materials tracking FSE 7 of ONMACS and have raised a single Level 4 regulatory issue to monitor the agreed updates to their arrangements.
I provided feedback to the site on the inspection findings at the close-out meeting with management representatives from Magnox.
Conclusion of Intervention
No matters requiring immediate regulatory attention were identified during this inspection.
Based on the inspection sample I judge that the dutyholder is compliant with the requirements for nuclear material accountancy set out in NSR19, specifically, Regulations 6 (including Schedule 2), 10, 11, 12 and 29. I consider this inspection to merit a rating of GREEN, no formal action but with one Level 4 Regulatory Issue raised.