Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: July 2024
Aim of inspection
ONR nuclear safeguards inspectors conducted a nuclear safeguards system based inspection (SSBI) of the Sellafield Ltd. THORP Product Store (TPS) (Material Balance Area QS34) on 09 and 10 July 2024. 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).
SSBI’s assess the adequacy of systems integral to nuclear material accountancy and control (NMAC) performance within facilities. This TPS SSBI has been targeted as the store's inventory of QNM will be transferred through the SRP project in the near future utilising NMAC systems sampled within the scope of inspection. The store still currently conducts limited movements and is subject to IAEA safeguards.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 3 Competence Management - Rating: GREEN
- 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
- 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 review of Sellafield Ltd operating, accounting records and other source documentation, and plant walkdowns to check the implementation of arrangements. It was carried out in line with the ONR Safeguards Technical Inspection Guide (TIG) and the ONR Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards Assessment Principles (ONMACS) which can be found on ONR’s website (onr.org.uk).
Based on the sampled evidence I judge that Sellafield Ltd. is implementing appropriate and proportionate arrangements for nuclear material accountancy at QS34 and have met the requirements of Regulations 6 (1-4) , 9, 10 (1) , 11(1-4) of NSR19 and ONMACSs FSEs 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. I raised one Level 4 Regulatory Issue relating to the testing of recovery arrangements for electronic systems that process NMACS data within Material Balance Area (MBA) QS34.
Noting ONR guidance on inspection ratings, I judge that a GREEN rating for this inspection is suitable.
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:
THORP Product Store (MBA QS34); NSR 19 regulations 6 (1-4) , 9, 10 (1) , 11(1-4) and ONMACS FSE 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.