HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate

BRADWELL NUCLEAR POWER STATION

Quarterly report for 1 JULY 2004 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2004

CONTENTS

• Inspections
• Routine Matters
• Non Routine Matter
• Regulatory Activity

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FOREWORD

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 Bradwell Power Station's Local Community Liaison Council and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Bradwell Nuclear Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LCLC meetings and will respond to any questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LCLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 - 951 - 4103.

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INSPECTIONS

1.1 Bradwell was visited for inspections, meetings and investigations on five occasions during this quarter, the inspections containing both a routine element and a reactive element. The visits were made on the following dates:- 5 - 8 July 2004 26 - 29 July 2004 16 - 19 August 2004 20 - 22 September 2004 27 - 30 September 2004 In addition to the site inspector's planned inspection activities, a number of additional activities were carried out, two of which involved a team of HMNII specialist inspectors. One of these was concerned with the restructuring of BNFL and its effect on Bradwell and the other concerned the station's newly issued arrangements made under Licence Conditions 19 & 20. The main thrust in this period has been concerned with Bradwell's decision to cease defuelling operations and the station's improvement plan formulation and implementation to return to operations. The site inspectors' main priorities for the rest of 2004/5 and possibly into the next year are the Life Cycle Baseline Plans/Near Term Work Plans and BNFL Restructuring. As a result fewer compliance inspections will be undertaken.

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ROUTINE MATTERS

2.1 Routine Inspections

There were no routine inspections carried out in this quarter.

2.2 Additional Inspections

2.2 .1 Inspection of LC 19 & 20 Arrangements.

These arrangements are required to control the design and construction of new buildings. Now that Bradwell has commenced decommissioning, new buildings will be required to retrieve, treat and store operational radioactive wastes. An inspection was carried out of the station's arrangements. However, lack of progress with the project meant that this inspection was not conclusive.

2.3 Meetings

A bi-annual meeting was held with the Trades Unions Safety Representatives. A report was given at the meeting of regulatory activity at Bradwell over the previous six months.

The Annual Review of Safety meeting was attended. The HMNII Superintending Inspector also attended this meeting. This was the first joint annual review of safety between HMNII and the Environment Agency. A presentation was given by the station to HMNII and the Environment Agency on its Life Cycle Base Line 2 (LCBL 2). HMNII had asked some 40 questions concerning this document. The station provided comprehensive responses to those questions.

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NON-ROUTINE MATTERS

3.1 Lifting Equipment.

Following an incident where a sump pump became detached from a crane during a lifting operation, an inspection of Bradwell's compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) was carried out. The station's arrangements were seen to contain several non-compliances. The station was informed in writing of these inadequacies and reqested to remedy them within three months.

3.2 415 volt Electrical Supplies.

An inspection of 415 volt electrical supplies in the cooling water pumphouse revealed several inadequacies. The station was informed of these inadequacies and requested to remedy them within three months.

3.3 Improvement Plan

Following Bradwell's decision to cease all defuelling operations in July, meetings were held with the station to discuss and agree a programme of improvements which HMNII consider that Bradwell needs to implement in order to return to normal operations in a safe manner. The station has taken these regulatory requirements on board and is currently implementing the required improvements.