Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
Inspections
Routine Matters
Non Routine Matters
Regulatory Activities
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 HMNuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LCLCmeetings 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 01519514103.
The Site Inspector made the following visits to Hinkley Point "A" in the period covered by this report:
7th to 11th July 2003.The site inspector also had meetings with Magnox Electric plc that were relevant to Hinkley Point "A" on:
3rd July 2003.During 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 monitored the Station's response. An inspection of the licensee's compliance against The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 was made by two specialist NII inspectors on 10th & 11th July. Some shortfalls were noted and NII is monitoring the response of the licensee.
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.
The annual Level One Emergency Exercise was observed by a team of four NII inspectors on 9th July 2003. The exercise was agreed to be an adequate demonstration of the site emergency arrangements. A shortfall regarding the time to successfully account for all personnel on the site was rectified and satisfactorily redemonstrated to NII on 29th July 2003.
As part of NII's planned joint inspections with the Environment Agency, the respective site inspectors visited a plant which stored radioactive low level waste, to inspect the arrangements for storing some waste retrieved by decontamination of the storm drains. A broadly satisfactory outcome resulted from this plant inspection.
The licensee has responsibility for the appropriate control and supervision of contractors working on the licensed site. A number of contractors are now engaged in decommissioning projects. The site inspector is advising the licensee on the adequacy of current arrangements. Further measures are being sought from the licensee by the site inspector.
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 30thJune2002. 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. The decommissioning Consent was issued by HSE on 10th July 2003. HSE has issued a report, (NUC 21), on the web site, explaining the decision on the application to carry out a decommissioning project under the Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations 1999.
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. No Licence Instruments have been issued in this period.
Published on the HSE web site 3 November 2003