Who we are

Two organisations assess new nuclear power station designs – the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency. Together they are called the 'nuclear regulators'.

HSE's Nuclear Directorate

HSE's Nuclear Directorate (ND) grants Nuclear Site Licences to allow the development and operation of nuclear power stations. Before granting a licence, ND must be satisfied about:

• the safety aspects of:
  • design
  • manufacture
  • construction
  • commissioning
  • operation
  • maintenance
  • decommissioning; and
• the management of radioactive material on the site.

The Office of Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS)

The Office of Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), part of HSE, is the regulator for security at civil nuclear sites. It is concerned with:

• physical security of nuclear material
• IT security
• security of nuclear material in transit
• vetting people who access nuclear sites

OCNS require the holder of the Nuclear Site Licence to submit a site security plan to be approved before nuclear material arrives on site.

The Environment Agency

To reduce the impact of waste disposals on our air, water and land, the Environment Agency:

• regulates discharges and radioactive waste disposals from nuclear power stations in England and Wales
• authorises operators of these sites to dispose of their radioactive waste
• sets limits on the amount of waste that operators can dispose of
• sets conditions on the way they dispose of it

The Environment Agency also grants and enforces other environmental permits that a nuclear site may need, including permission to:

• draw water from rivers
• discharge non-radioactive substances to rivers, estuaries or the sea
• treat and dispose of non-radioactive waste
• operate 'conventional' plant such as boilers and incinerators

In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has similar responsibilities. However, SEPA is not taking part in the assessment process for new nuclear power stations.

Working together

Whilst the Nuclear Regulators have independent responsibilities we recognise the benefits of building on our close working relationship to align our processes and regulatory positions when we can.

To help us work together to assess new nuclear reactors, we have set up a Joint Programme Co-ordination Team and a Joint Programme Office to plan and administer our joint assessment work.