Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: August 2023
Aim of inspection
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards’ integrated intervention strategy 2023/24 for Sellafield Ltd, ONR Safeguards undertakes several 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 nuclear material accountancy and control arrangements within MBA QS19 (Store 9 Main) being implemented in a manner, which is proportionate to, and appropriate for the qualifying nuclear facility.
The purpose of this accountancy focussed inspection was to examine:
- operating and accounting records to establish a correct set of data and to provide confidence to ONR that the operator has an adequate nuclear material accountancy and control system established
- the specific arrangements and procedures in place for nuclear material accountancy
as detailed in Section 5 of the ONR Safeguards Technical Inspection Guide SG-INSP-GD-001 Revision 3.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 5 Reliability, Resilience and Sustainability - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 6 Measurement Programme and Control - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 7 Nuclear Material Tracking - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 8 Data Processing and Control - 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 Reg12 - Accounting reports - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg14 - Inventory change report - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg20 - Weight units and categories of qualifying nuclear materials - Rating: GREEN
- Overall Inspection Rating - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The inspection comprised of discussions with Sellafield Ltd staff, sampling and a review of Sellafield Ltd operating, accounting records and other source documentation. No plant walkdown was undertaken to check the implementation of arrangements within the store, due to the ONR Inspector's on-site presence during the June 2023 QS19 Physical Inventory Verification, whereby evidence of the implementation of appropriate and proportionate arrangements for nuclear material accountancy and control during routine store operations was obtained. The inspection was carried out in line with ONR's guidance which can be found on ONR’s website (onr.org.uk).
No matters of immediate concern were identified during the inspection.
Based on the sampled evidence I judge Sellafield Ltd. is implementing appropriate and proportionate arrangements for nuclear material accountancy at QS19 and have met the requirements for nuclear material accountancy set out in NSR19, specifically, Regulations 6, 9, 10, 11, 12(1,2),14 and 20. Noting ONR guidance on inspection ratings, I am providing a GREEN rating for this inspection.
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:
Store 9 Main (MBA QS19); NSR 19 regulations 6 (1-4) , 9, 10 (1) , 11(1-4), 12, 14 , 20, Schedule 2 and ONMACSs FSEs 5, 6, 7 and 8.