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 Capenhurst District Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Capenhurst. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend DLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there or subsequently by members of the DLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 951 4103.
Four inspection visits were made to the UCL site during this
period on 8 October 2003, 12/13 November 2003, 24/25 November 2003
and 31 December 2003.
The main themes of NII's inspection activities included:
i) Discussions with Urenco and Environment Agency on HSE's
draft Quinquennial Review report.
ii) Progress with Urenco's application for the issue of new
nuclear site licences jointly with BNFL.
Arrangements for complying with Licence Condition 28 (Maintenance) were reviewed during an inspection of the A3 production plant. All safety related scheduled maintenance appeared to have been completed and staff appeared to be competent and knowledgeable about local maintenance procedures.
An inspection was undertaken in the Production and Services departments of Urenco of arrangements made under Licence Condition 12 (Duly Authorised Persons, Suitably Qualified Experienced Persons). It was concluded that UCL's arrangements were generally satisfactory and that safety related tasks were being carried out with appropriate levels of training and supervision.
A presentation was given to the Environment Agency followed by discussions with Urenco staff on HSE's preliminary findings following an assessment of Urenco's Decommissioning Strategy (the so called Quinquennial Review process identified in the Government's White Paper Cmnd 2919 which requires HSE in consultation with EA to undertake a review every 5 years). HSE plans to publish its findings for the Urenco Capenhurst site during 2004.
Regulations 2001
Nothing to report this period
Nothing to report this period.
An out of hours inspection was undertaken at midnight over the Xmas holiday period to gain confidence that minimum manning levels necessary to respond to a site emergency were present. NII was satisfied that Urenco were complying with their local arrangements.
Nothing to report.
HSE is monitoring Urenco's proposals for improving arrangements associated with lifting equipment. This follows a number of reported events on site.
There have been no consents, approvals or licence instruments
issued during this period.
NII is responding to Urenco's request to relicense the site to
facilitate further commercial expansion. This will allow for a
realignment of the shared boundary between UCL and BNFL following
agreement on land transfers. During this period we have given advice
to Urenco on what actions will need to be undertaken before a new
licence can be issued.
NII is considering Urenco's request for a lease to be granted to
Enrichment Technology (UK) Ltd under LC3. The Environment Agency has
been consulted in respect of any implications with respect to
Authorisations issued under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993
Published on the HSE web site 8 March 2004