Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
Inspections
Routine Matters
Non Routine Matters
Regulatory Activity
The 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 Hinkley Point A Power Station's Local Community Liaison Council (LCLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at 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 the 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 - 3rd April.The site inspector also had a meeting with Magnox Electric plc that was relevant to Hinkley Point "A" on:
20th JuneDuring the site 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 provided advice to the licensee and is monitoring the Station's response.
As part of NII's planned inspections, the 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 licensee.
As part of NII's planned inspections, the site inspector visited the plant which stores radioactive intermediate level waste, to inspect the arrangements for maintaining and testing waste monitoring equipment. A satisfactory outcome resulted from this plant inspection.
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 30th June 2002.
A wide range of responses were received. HSE completed its initial assessment of the issues raised and concluded that some further information was required to support the application. This was provided by Magnox Electric in February 2003.
Public consultation on this further information was completed at the end of March 2003. HSE prepared its written opinion for publication. (Note: The decommissioning Consent was issued by HSE on 10th July 2003.)
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. Two Licence Instruments have been issued during this period. The first, issued on 17th June 2003, was an Agreement under licence condition 36 arrangements, to the appointment of a Decommissioning Project Manager to the Station Lead Team, (following secondment to the licensee's staff). The second, issued on 30th June 2003, was an Agreement under licence condition 22 arrangements, to the Preliminary Safety Report for the Electrical Overlay System, (a forthcoming Station decommissioning project).
Published on the HSE web site 19 September