Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Nuclear
LLC reports
This report is issued as part of the Health and Safety Executive's commitment to make infor-mation about inspection and regulatory activities relating to the above site available to the public. It is for distribution to members of the Chapelcross Local Liaison Committee (LLC) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Chapelcross Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspec-torate normally attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to any questions raised there or subsequently by members of the LLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Informa-tion Centre on 0151-951-4103.
The HMNII Site Inspector made the following planned visits during the period:
1 - 2 July
26 - 30 July
7 - 9 September
Other HMNII Inspectors visited the site during the quarter to discuss the re-licensing of Chapelcross, as part of the re-structuring of BNFL in preparation for the formation of the Nu-clear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and to witness the Level 1 Emergency Exercise repeat "BYRON".
Routine inspections continued throughout the period to check compliance with the conditions attached to the Nuclear Site Licence. Work was in hand during the quarter to improve com-pliance arrangements associated with the regular review of safety related systems, the identi-fication of mandatory training and the removal of radiological waste from the site.
The management and recording of events that occurred on the station during the period were inspected. Most of the events were relatively minor however several events were followed up in more detail with appropriate BNFL staff.
The Chapelcross 3rd Annual Review Meeting was attended on 2/7/2004. The quality of the documentation provided by BNFL had improved since the previous meeting and the docu-mentation had been provided in a more timely manner. For future meetings BNFL was re-quested to provide information on significant activities planned for the year ahead as well as information on activities that had been undertaken during the previous year.
The Chapelcross Local Liaison Committee was attended on 2/7/2004.
A team from the Inspectorate witnessed the Level 1 Exercise repeat "BYRON" on 8/9/2004. The team concluded that improvements had been made since the Level 1 Exercise "AVRIL" on 21/4/2004, and that exercise "BYRON" was an adequate demonstration of BNFL's emer-gency arrangements. BNFL was encouraged to build upon the improvements made to date.
On 29/7/2004 a joint inspection was undertaken with SEPA. The inspection revealed that some improvements were needed to ensure the timely removal of low level radioactive waste from the site.
Discussions were held on the production of LCBLs and NTWPs, for submission to the NDA, that identify future work to be undertaken on the site. BNFL confirmed that the need for im-provements identified by the Inspectorate would be included in these documents.
Absorber replacement continued throughout the quarter on reactor
3 and the approach to criticality, undertaken as part of this work,
indicated that measured values were very close to those predicted.
Delays were experienced during the quarter due to improvements
needed to the hoist well shield doors.
Pond Safety Case Project
At the end of the quarter BNFL requested permission to undertake empty flask handling trials over the ponds. The trials are needed to support assumptions in the safety case, covering the return to service of the ponds, the production of which is planned for December 2004.
Processing recommenced towards the end of the quarter following a prolonged plant outage. The outage was required to undertake maintenance work and to implement the requirements of the Continued Operation Safety Report (COSR).
Submissions continued to be assessed by the Inspectorate during the quarter.
The Inspectorate has powers under the Nuclear Site Licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications and Agreements under the conditions attached to the Site Licence.
No formal documents were issued during the quarter.
Published on the HSE web site 10 January 2005
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