Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
This report is issued as part of the Health and Safety Executive's commitment to make information about inspection and regulatory activities relating to the above site available to the public. It is for distribution to members of the Dungeness Power Stations Local Community Liaison Council (LCLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Dungeness A Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attend LCLC meetings and will be happy to respond to any questions raised there by members of the LCLC. Any other persons wishing to inquire about matters covered in this report should contact HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Center on 0151 - 951 - 4103.
NII Inspectors made the following visits to Dungeness A Power Station during the period:
21 - 23 January 2002- During these visits the site inspector carried out planned inspections of the licensee's compliance with:
(i) the conditions attached to the Site Licence;
(ii) the Ionising Radiations Regulations;
(iii) other relevant health and safety legislation.
Every year the station demonstrates its emergency arrangements in an exercise witnessed by the NII. The last such exercise was carried out on 14 November 2001. Periodically the National nuclear emergency arrangements are exercised. On 27 March 2002 Dungeness A was the focus of a National Level 3 exercise. The aim of this type of exercise is to test the off site arrangements and the links to Government and all the other agencies involved. The station provided a "desk top" on site event to drive the exercise which was cosidered to be a success. The station made use of their new on site Emergency Control Center.
- As part of planned inspections the site inspector examined the licensee's arrangements for the recording and investigation of events on the station, and where appropriate undertook independent investigations to the extent that was warranted by the significance of the event.
The main issue is the current review of the Reactor Pressure Vessel safety case. The Company have completed their review and revision of the safety case for operation up to 40 years. The station have implemented a range of operational changes to increase operating margins on reactor pressure vessel temperatures and reduce operational challenges to the vessel during the remaining period of operation. The case is still being assessed by the NIIs specialists.
The Inspectorate has powers under the License to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. No Consents, Approvals or Directions were issued during this period. In addition the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions attached to the Licence. During the period the following Licence Instruments were issued:
LI 29 Agreed in Principle to a replacement of the Passport Work management system.LI 30 Agreed to the final testing and commissioning of the refurbished refueling machine No 4 on the reactor.
Published on the HSE web site 24 June 2002