Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: September 2022
Aim of inspection
ONR performed a nuclear material accountancy compliance inspection, considering the arrangements for the NMACS and their implementation at the University of Leicester, to judge if they comply with NSR19.
The purpose of an accountancy compliance inspection is to provide assurance to ONR that the operator’s accountancy arrangements are appropriate and proportionate for the qualifying nuclear facility and that they are adequately implemented for nuclear material accountancy and control of QNM. This includes maintaining adequate operating records and accounting records, which are traceable to the accounting reports provided to the ONR and are underpinned by suitable accountancy arrangements. The purpose of this inspection was to gain evidence and enable ONR inspectors to make judgements on University of Leicester’s compliance with NSR19
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 10 Quality Assurance and Control for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 3 Competence Management - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 4 Reporting, Anomalies, and Investigations - 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 Reg15 - Material balance report and physical inventory listing - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
I carried out an accountancy compliance inspection at the University of Leicester, material balance area (MBA) QULE. During the inspection I sought to gain assurance of the adequacy of University of Leicester's system for nuclear material accountancy and control. No significant shortfalls were identified during this intervention and University of Leicester remain in compliance against NSR19.
Based on the sample inspected of University of Leicester’s arrangements, including operating records and accounting records, I judge University of Leicester are compliant with NSR19 regulations 6, 9, 10, 11, 15 and Schedule 2 and that University of Leicester are adequately implementing suitable arrangements for nuclear material accountancy and control of Qualifying Nuclear Material (QNM) at QULE.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence sampled, I judge that University of Leicester are implementing their arrangements for accountancy and control of QNM in-line with regulatory expectations and are compliant with NSR19 regulations 6, 9,10, 11, 15, and Schedule 2. I did not identify any shortfalls.
Upon consideration of the ONR guidance on inspection ratings, I judge that a rating of GREEN (no formal action) is appropriate. One regulatory issue has been raised to monitor the progress of regulatory advice given regarding the updating of arrangement documents.