Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
This report is issued as part of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) 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 Hinkley Point A Power Station's Local Community Liaison Council (LCLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at the Hinkley Point A Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LCLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LCLC. Alternatively, any other person wishing to enquire about matters covered by this report should contact HSE Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 951 4103.
The Site Inspector made the following visits to Hinkley Point A in
the period covered by this report:
2nd - 5th July,
12th - 15th August,
22nd - 23rd August,
9th - 11th September,
24th - 26th September.
The site inspector had other meetings with Magnox Electric that were relevant to Hinkley Point on 21st August
During these visits NII's site inspector carried out planned sample inspections of the licensee's compliance with the conditions attached to the Site Licence and other relevant health and safety legislation. Where these inspections revealed that improvements to the site's arrangements were required the site inspector raised them with the Station Manager and is regularly monitoring the Station's response.
As part of NII's planned inspections its site inspector examined the licensee's arrangements for the recording and investigation of events on the station, and undertook independent investigations to the extent that was warranted by the significance of the event. In general he was content with how these matters had been progressed by the Company.
There was a routine witnessed emergency exercises held during on 3rd July demonstrate compliance with the nuclear site licence requirements. Overall the Inspectorate considered that this was an adequate demonstration of the Hinkley Point A Emergency Plan, but the Inspectorate does have some concerns over how the new structure is bedding down and would like to see some aspects forming part of a further demonstration to the site inspector and a small team. The date of this demonstration has still to be finalised, and is currently targeted for January 2003.
Hinkley Point A has stopped generating electricity, is now defuelling its reactors, and preparing to start decommissioning. A key requirement arising from the above Regulations, for which NII on behalf of HSE is the competent authority, is that final decommissioning cannot start until HSE gives its consent to the licensee to carry out a decommissioning project. NII has reported previously on the receipt of an application for that consent, and on the issue of documents for public consultation. The consultation period ended on 30 June 2002. A wide range of responses were received. HSE has almost completed an initial assessment of the issues raised both by these responses and its own assessment.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Nuclear Site Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments (LI) to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions attached to the Site Licence. One Licence Instrument has been issued during this period.
| Date | Licence Instrument Number | Topic |
| 5th Sept. | 41 | Agreement to the Start of Active Commissioniong of IONSIV |
: The site inspector has continued monitoring progress of the agreed work that was required before active commissioning of new caesium extract filters could commence, and has now issued a Licence Instrument giving Agreement to the start of Active Commissioning. A further regulatory holdpoint has been set that will require a further agreement before IONSIV cartridges can be removed from the fuel ponds.
Published on the HSE web site 11 November 2002