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 Hunterston A Power Station Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Hunterston A Power Station. These reports are distributed quarterly. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to questions raised there by members of the LLC. Any other person wishing to inquire about matters covered by this report should contact the HSE, Nuclear Directorate Information Centre on 0151 - 951 - 4103.
1. The Site Inspector made one visit to Hunterston A during the period April to June this visit was on:
5-7 May 2004
The ND site inspector attended the LCLC meeting on 7 May 2004.
The ND Emergency Arrangements team witnessed a demonstration of the off site emergency arrangements for Hunterston A on 23 June 2004.
2. One routine inspection was been completed this quarter.
3. Inspections completed this quarter under the site inspection
plan included the following licence conditions: LC2 Marking of the
Site Boundary, LC8 Warning Notices, LC 13 Nuclear Safety Committee,
LC 14 Safety Documentation, LC 19 Construction or Installation of New
Plant, LC 22 Modification or Experiment on Existing Plant, LC 36
Control of Organisational Change. Progress with producing a schedule
of warning notices under LC 8 was not adequate. This is to be
followed up during future visits.
4. During this visit the SEPA inspector was on site. Discussions were
held on the ILW store and enabling work.
5. The outcome of this inspection was in the main acceptable, the
deficiencies were reported to the Licensee for attention
6. Outside plant areas were inspected and progress with the removal of rubble from the Turbine Hall basement were noted. Contamination of the CW culverts is much lower than originally measured following successful cleaning. The site has written to ND clearing this issue. Routine inspection of the site found the general conditions and housekeeping continue to improve despite the increased level of decommissioning activity. Concerns were raised about workplace transport safety; as a result of these concerns the site produced details about their plans to improve areas around the main site entrance.
7. Dialogue has continued with the licensee in respect of the intention to make changes to the management and staff structure. The proposed content of the Licence Condition 36, Control of Organisational Change, justification to be provided to the Inspectorate has been discussed along with the implementation plan. The site has, in advance of the restructuring plans, cleared an interim reduction of 5 staff members in accordance with arrangements under licence condition 36 - Control of organisational change. A final conclusion on the main restructuring plans will not be possible until an adequate justification has been made available and assessed by the Inspectorate.
8. The Licensee requested Approval, in compliance with licence condition 11(3) of a document entitled Hunterston 'A' Emergency Plan HNA/1003/TL/EP Issue 7. This document contains proposed amendments to the Emergency Arrangements currently approved (Approval No 8) under licence condition 11(3) namely Hunterston 'A' Emergency Plan HNA/1003/TL/EP Issue 6.
9. Issue 6 of the Emergency Plan was common with British Energy, Hunterston 'B'. The change to Issue 7 will result in differences in the Hunterston 'A' and Hunterston 'B' emergency plans in respect of off-site support at the local emergency centre (LEC). The two sites will still retain a common Emergency Manual.
10. Exercise "Clyde" was held on 23rd June 2004 to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of these revised arrangements. The ND Emergency Arrangements team duly observed and assessed the demonstration. All the specified objectives set by British Nuclear Group in the Operational Order for Exercise Clyde were achieved.
11. The licensee's request was considered and found to be in compliance with the licence condition and the regulatory guidance. The changes were agreed by signature of Approval Number 11 on 3 July 2004.
12. The inspection of the Solid Active Waste Bunkers (SAWB) and assessment of the safety case have been completed with a satisfactory outcome. The changes to the fire suppression provision for the SAWB will be permissioned by issue of an agreement when the safety case has been received and if it is considered adequate. Current proposals are to use Argon as a fire suppressant.
13. The site's arrangements for the management and for the control and supervision of the site construction activities for the ILW store project have been reviewed at length including aspects of the site boundary and transport safety. The inspection and assessment of the store enabling work has been completed and the position is satisfactory. The site manager has been informed, by letter, that we have no objections to the construction of the store commencing.
14. The Inspectorate has power under the 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 Licence.
| Number | Date | Subject |
| G2 | 29 April 2004 | Agreement to BNFL proposals for Top Level Organisational Change.(Formation of British Nuclear Group and Reactor Sites Organisation this is a generic document referring to a number of licensed sites.) |
| G4 | 24 June 2004 | Agreement to implementation of a common site lead team structure for sites within the Reactor services Organisation (excluding Capenhurst)). |
| Number | Date | Subject |
| 11 | 3 July 2004 | Licence condition 11(3) Approval of Hunterston "A2 Emergency Plan Issue 7. (Changes to off-site response.) |
Published on the HSE web site 7 October 2004