Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: July 2023
Aim of inspection
The purpose of this inspection was to seek evidence in support of Sellafield Ltd.’s compliance with The Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19). The purpose of a PIT is for the operator to establish the physical inventory within an MBA at a given date and involves the operator identifying, counting, measuring or deriving estimates of all qualifying nuclear material (QNM). A PITe inspects the suitability of arrangements made and the adequacy of their implementation as detailed in Appendix 2 of the ONR Safeguards Technical Inspection Guide SG-INSP-GD-001 Revision 3.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 10 Quality Assurance and Control for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 3 Competence Management - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 7 Nuclear Material Tracking - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 8 Data Processing and Control - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 9 Material Balance - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg06 - Accountancy and control of qualifying nuclear material - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg09 - Operation of an accountancy and control plan - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg10 - Operating records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg11 - Accounting records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg15 - Material balance report and physical inventory listing - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg20 - Weight units and categories of qualifying nuclear materials - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards’ integrated intervention strategy 2023/24 for Sellafield Ltd, ONR Safeguards undertakes a number of safeguards compliance inspections at the Sellafield site. An inspection was undertaken to assess Sellafield Ltd's compliance with the requirements of the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19) in relation to evaluating the implementation of arrangements for performing a Physical Inventory Take (PIT). The inspection sampled the PIT arrangements in Special Nuclear Material Store 9 Extension (MBA QS28).
The inspection comprised of discussions with Sellafield Ltd staff, sampling and review of Sellafield Ltd operating, accounting records and other source documentation, and plant walkdowns to check. It was carried out in line with ONR's guidance which can be found on ONR’s website (onr.org.uk).
Based on the sampled evidence, I judged that the Sellafield Ltd 2023 PIT undertaken at QS28 was able to produce accurate and representative information on quantities of Qualifying Nuclear Material (QNM) within QS28 through the sampling of key operating records and a plant walkdown. An existing Level 4 Regulatory Issue identified during a previous inspection currently remains open to monitor progress against a compliance shortfall relating to a lack of arrangements for undertaking a PIT at MBAs QS04 and QS28.
Conclusion
In line with the ONR Inspection Rating Guide, based on the sampled evidence during the course of the intervention at Sellafield Ltd, I consider a rating of GREEN against the following as identified within the scope of inspection:
SNM Store 9 Extension (MBA QS28); NSR 19 regulations 6 (1-4) , 9(1) , 10 (1) , 11(1-4) , 15(3) , 20, Schedule 2 and ONMACSs FSEs 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10.