Generic Design Assessment of new Nuclear Power stations is being carried out by two organisations; the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency.
As part of its nuclear role HSE grants Site Licences to allow the operation of Nuclear Power Stations.. Before granting a licence, HSE must be satisfied about the safety aspects of the design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of the installation, and the management of radioactive material on the site.
The Office of Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), also 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, and the vetting of 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 (England and Wales) oversees how each nuclear site disposes of its radioactive waste, including its discharges to water and air, by granting site-based authorisations to the companies who run them. It monitors these sites to ensure they comply with their authorisations.
It also grants and enforces other environmental permits that a nuclear site may need, including licences to abstract water from rivers, consents to discharge non-radioactive substances to rivers, estuaries or the sea, licences or permits for treatment and disposal of non-radioactive wastes and permits for operation of certain '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 Generic Design Assessment process for new Nuclear Power stations.
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 to work together in the Generic Design Assessment of new nuclear reactors, we have set up a Joint Programme Co-ordination Team and a Joint Programme Office to carry out joint planning and administration activities in support of the GDA process.
Protecting people, the environment, and society
