Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: July 2024
Aim of inspection
ONR nuclear safeguards inspectors conducted a nuclear material accountancy focused compliance inspection of the Material Balance Area QBSS (MBA QBSS) National Nuclear Laboratory (Preston Laboratory) and the Springfields site Chemical and Metallurgical Services Department (C&MSD) on the 09 and 10 July 2024.
The purpose of this inspection was to seek evidence in support of Springfields Fuels Limited’s compliance with the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19). ONR formed regulatory judgements and provided a rating in line with ONR’s inspection rating guidance of Springfields Fuels Limited’s compliance against the following regulations in NSR19 regulation 6 (1-4),9, 10(1), 11(1-4), 12(1-2) and 14.
To form an effective regulatory judgement on Springfields Fuels Ltd.’s compliance with the NSR19 regulations listed above, inspectors considered the ONR guidance for the assessment of Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS) and the expectations within. There was a particular focus on FSEs 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 10 Quality Assurance and Control for NMACS - 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
- 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 Reg12 - Accounting reports - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg14 - Inventory change report - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
ONR nuclear safeguards inspectors conducted a nuclear material accountancy compliance inspection of the Material Balance Area QBSS - National Nuclear Laboratory (Preston Laboratory) and the Springfields Site Chemical and Metallurgical Services Department (C&MSD) on 09-10 July 2024.
The purpose of this inspection was to seek evidence in support of Springfields Fuels Limited’s compliance with The Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19).
The inspection comprised of discussions with Springfields Fuels Ltd personnel, sampling of documentation, review of implementation arrangements and a plant walkdown.
ONR formed regulatory judgements and provided a rating in line with ONR’s inspection rating guidance of Springfields Fuels Ltd.’s compliance against NSR19 regulations 3(1)(3), 6(1-4), 9, 10(1), 11(1-4), 12(1-2) and 14.
To form effective regulatory judgements on Springfields Fuels Ltd.’s compliance with the NSR19 regulations listed in the scope of the inspection, inspectors considered the ONR guidance for the assessment of Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS) and the expectations within. There was a particular focus on FSEs 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Based on the evidence sampled, I judge that Springfields Fuels Limited is implementing adequate arrangements to provide measurement programme and control in line with FSE 6, nuclear material tracking in line with FSE 7, data processing and control in line with FSE 8, material balance within FSE 9 and quality assurance and control for NMACS in line with FSE 10. I also judged that Springfields Fuels Limited is compliant with regulations 3(1)(3), 6(1-4), 9, 10(1), 11(1-4), 12(1-2) and 14 in NSR19.
Conclusion
Overall, I did not identify any major shortfalls against NSR19, or fundamental safeguards expectations as described by the ONMACS. Based on the evidence sampled, I judge that Springfields Fuels Ltd implements adequate arrangements to provide measurement programme and control in line with FSE 6, nuclear material tracking in line with FSE 7, data processing and control in line with FSE 8, material balance within FSE 9 and quality assurance and control for NMACS in line with FSE 10. I also judged that Springfields Fuels Limited is compliant with regulations 3(1)(3), 6(1-4), 9, 10(1), 11(1-4), 12(1-2) and 14 in NSR19.
The overall rating of the Nuclear Material Accountancy compliance inspection is rated as GREEN.