Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection
- December 2023
The purpose of this inspection is to gain assurance that Trawsfynydd’s arrangements for compliance with the legal requirements of LC 28 (Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing) and LC32 (Accumulation of radioactive waste) and their implementation comply with legal requirements. The LC 28 aspects of this inspection will focus on plant that is used for radioactive waste management. The inspection will be joint with ONR/EA/NRW.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC28 – Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing – Rating: Green
- LC32 – Accumulation of radioactive waste – Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector’s opinions and reasons for judgement made
This was a joint inspection undertaken by ONR and NRW. This IR covers those aspects of the inspection that fall within ONR’s vires only. NRW has provided a separate report (RASCAR-TRAWS-23-005).
The purpose of the ONR element of this inspection was to gain regulatory confidence that Magnox Limited (ML) is compliant with Licence Condition (LC) 28 – Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing (EIMT) and LC32 – Accumulation of radioactive waste at the Trawsfynydd site.
I conducted a planned inspection of the Trawsfynydd site together with the ONR Trawsfynydd Site Inspector and an ONR Nuclear Liabilities Regulation (NLR) specialist inspector on 5-6 December 2023. The purpose of the inspection was to examine the adequacy of the site’s LC28 and LC32 arrangements and their implementation. The LC32 inspection focussed on the implementation of arrangements to manage wastes with reference to the corporate primary implementation document PD-026 (Management of Waste) and site-specific implementation documents. The inspection covered the operational management of Low-Level Waste (LLW) (through to consignment off-site for disposal), the interim storage of the existing inventory of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) and the process for developing the waste management approach for waste arising from decommissioning projects.
The LC 28 inspection focussed on the site’s examination, inspection, maintenance and testing arrangements under MCP (Management Control Procedure) 19-1 part B and its implementation on site via the “Passport” system. This was based on taking a sample of equipment important to safety and understanding how its EIMT was planned, managed, and conducted. The inspection of the current implementation of the arrangements comprised discussions with key Magnox Ltd personnel, examination of a sample of equipment records, and a site walkdown.
I obtained assurance that the Magnox Ltd corporate arrangements for compliance with LCs 28 and 32 are adequate and that these are being appropriately cascaded into equivalent local arrangements that are being followed on site.
- The representatives of the licensee had an effective understanding of the requirements of these Licence Conditions and of the site arrangements for their implementation.
- One regulatory issue was raised relating to the ongoing investigation into an extended period where waste has been incorrectly characterised and the ongoing associated accumulation.
From the evidence sampled during the inspection, I consider that Magnox Ltd has made adequate arrangements for compliance with LCs 28 and 32 and that it has implemented these arrangements adequately at the Trawsfynydd site. One regulatory issue was raised. This will be followed up via routine regulatory engagement. I have assigned an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) for compliance against LCs 28 and 32.
Conclusion
LC32 requires the licensee to make and implement adequate arrangements for minimising so far as is reasonably practicable the rate of production and total quantity of radioactive waste accumulated on the site at any time and for recording the waste so accumulated. Despite raising a Regulatory Issue in relation to an unplanned accumulation of waste, I am content that the licensee is taking the appropriate remedial action and will be able to recover within an acceptable timeframe. I am therefore satisfied that this inspection merits an IIS rating green (no formal action) against LC32.
LC28 requires the licensee to ensure that all plant which may affect safety receives regular and systematic examination, inspection, maintenance and testing (EIMT). I am satisfied that this inspection merits an IIS rating green (no formal action) against LC28
Pwrpas yr Arolygiad
Pwrpas yr arolygiad hwn yw cael sicrwydd bod trefniadau Trawsfynydd ar gyfer cydymffurfio â gofynion cyfreithiol LC 28 (Archwilio, arolygu, cynnal a chadw a phrofi) ac LC 32 (Cronni gwastraff ymbelydrol) a’u gweithrediad yn cydymffurfio â gofynion cyfreithiol. Bydd agweddau LC 28 yr arolygiad hwn yn canolbwyntio ar beiriannau a ddefnyddir ar gyfer rheoli gwastraff ymbelydrol. Bydd yr arolygiad yn cael ei gynnal ar y cyd ag ONR/AA/CNC.
Pwnc(pynciau) yr Arolygiad
Roedd y gweithgareddau canlynol yn destun yr arolygiad hwn
- LC28 – Archwilio, arolygu, cynnal a chadw a phrofi – Gwyrdd
- LC32 – Cronni gwastraff ymbelydrol – Gwyrdd
Canfyddiadau Allweddol
Roedd hwn yn arolygiad ar y cyd a gynhaliwyd gan ONR a CNC. Mae’r IR hwn yn ymdrin â’r agweddau hynny ar yr arolygiad sy’n dod o fewn awdurdodaeth ONR yn unig. Mae CNC wedi darparu adroddiad ar wahân (RASCAR-TRAWS-23-005).
Pwrpas yr Ymyrraeth
Diben elfen ONR yr arolygiad hwn oedd magu hyder rheoleiddiol bod Magnox Limited (ML) yn cydymffurfio ag Amod Trwydded (LC) 28 – Archwilio, arolygu, cynnal a chadw a phrofi (EIMT) ac LC32 – Cronni gwastraff ymbelydrol ar safle Trawsfynydd.
Ymyriadau a Wnaed gan ONR
Cynhaliais arolygiad cynlluniedig o safle Trawsfynydd ynghyd ag Arolygydd Safle Trawsfynydd ONR ac arolygydd arbenigol Rheoleiddio Rhwymedigaethau Niwclear (NLR) yr ONR ar 5-6 Rhagfyr 2023. Pwrpas yr arolygiad oedd archwilio digonolrwydd trefniadau LC28 ac LC32 y safle a’u gweithrediad. Roedd arolygiad LC32 yn canolbwyntio ar weithredu trefniadau i reoli gwastraff gan gyfeirio at y ddogfen weithredu sylfaenol gorfforaethol PD-026 (Rheoli Gwastraff) a dogfennau gweithredu safle-benodol. Roedd yr arolygiad yn cynnwys rheolaeth weithredol Gwastraff Lefel Isel (LLW) (trwodd i gludo oddi ar y safle i’w waredu), storio dros dro y rhestr bresennol o Wastraff Lefel Ganolradd (ILW) a’r broses ar gyfer datblygu’r dull rheoli gwastraff ar gyfer gwastraff sy’n deillio o brosiectau datgomisiynu.
Roedd yr arolygiad LC 28 yn canolbwyntio ar drefniadau archwilio, arolygu, cynnal a chadw a phrofi’r safle o dan MCP (Gweithdrefn Rheoli Rheolaeth) 19-1 rhan B a’i weithrediad ar y safle trwy’r system “Pasbort”. Roedd hyn yn seiliedig ar gymryd sampl o offer sy’n bwysig i ddiogelwch a deall sut roedd ei EIMT yn cael ei gynllunio, ei reoli a’i gynnal. Roedd yr arolygiad ar weithrediad presennol y trefniadau yn cynnwys trafodaethau gyda phersonél allweddol Magnox Ltd, archwilio sampl o gofnodion offer, a thaith gerdded ar y safle.
Canfyddiadau Allweddol, Barn yr Arolygydd, a’r Rhesymau dros y Dyfarniadau a Wnaed
Cefais sicrwydd bod trefniadau corfforaethol Magnox Ltd ar gyfer cydymffurfio ag LC 28 a 32 yn ddigonol a bod y rhain yn cael eu rhaeadru’n briodol i drefniadau lleol cyfatebol sy’n cael eu dilyn ar y safle.
Roedd gan gynrychiolwyr y trwyddedai ddealltwriaeth effeithiol o ofynion yr Amodau Trwydded hyn ac o’r trefniadau safle ar gyfer eu gweithredu.
Codwyd un mater rheoleiddiol yn ymwneud â’r ymchwiliad parhaus i gyfnod estynedig lle mae gwastraff wedi’i nodweddu’n anghywir a’r croniad cysylltiedig parhaus.
Casgliad yr Ymyrraeth
O’r dystiolaeth a samplwyd yn ystod yr arolygiad, rwyf o’r farn bod Magnox Ltd wedi gwneud trefniadau digonol ar gyfer cydymffurfio ag LC 28 a 32 a’i fod wedi rhoi’r trefniadau hyn ar waith yn ddigonol ar safle Trawsfynydd. Codwyd un mater rheoleiddio. Bydd hyn yn cael ei ddilyn i fyny trwy ymgysylltu rheoleiddiol arferol. Rwyf wedi pennu sgôr arolygu Gwyrdd (dim gweithredu ffurfiol) ar gyfer cydymffurfio yn erbyn LC 28 a 32.
Barnau a Wnaed
Mae LC32 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r trwyddedai wneud a gweithredu trefniadau digonol ar gyfer lleihau, i’r graddau y mae’n rhesymol ymarferol, cyfradd cynhyrchu a chyfanswm y gwastraff ymbelydrol a gronnir ar y safle ar unrhyw adeg ac ar gyfer cofnodi’r gwastraff a gronnir felly. Er gwaethaf codi Mater Rheoleiddiol mewn perthynas â chroniad gwastraff heb ei gynllunio, rwy’n fodlon bod deiliad y drwydded yn cymryd y camau unioni priodol ac y bydd yn gallu adfer o fewn amserlen dderbyniol. Rwyf felly’n fodlon bod yr arolygiad hwn yn teilyngu sgôr IIS gwyrdd (dim gweithredu ffurfiol) yn erbyn LC32.
Mae LC28 yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r trwyddedai sicrhau bod pob peiriant a allai effeithio ar ddiogelwch yn cael ei archwilio, ei arolygu, ei gynnal a’i brofi’n rheolaidd ac yn systematig (EIMT). Rwy’n fodlon bod yr arolygiad hwn yn teilyngu sgôr IIS gwyrdd (dim gweithredu ffurfiol) yn erbyn LC28