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 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.
This report will be put onto the HSE Website at www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/ home under “Local Liaison Committee Reports”.
Bradwell was visited for inspections and meetings on four occasions during this quarter, the inspections containing both a routine element and a reactive element. The visits were made on the following dates:-
In addition to the site inspector’s planned inspection activities, a number of additional activities were carried out. The main thrust in this period has been concerned with Bradwell’s continued compliance with the requirements of the nuclear site licence and continued preparations to enter the decommissioning phase of the station’s lifecycle. This has included checks to ensure that Reactor 1 is completely defuelled and Bradwell’s proposed revision to its emergency response arrangements. Additionally, an inspection of the station’s proposal under Licence Condition 36: Control of Organisational Change to introduce a new decommissioning staff structure was carried out by HMNII specialist inspectors.
2 Routine Inspections
Routine inspections were carried out against the following Licence Conditions in this quarter;
The results of these inspections showed Bradwell’s arrangements made under these licence conditions to be generally adequate. Where any minor deficiencies were identified, improvements were agreed with the station.
The inspection of Bradwell’s verification that no fuel remains in Reactor 1 dry route was carried out under Licence Condition 26. Bradwell’s verification has been very thorough and leads to the conclusion that a very high level of confidence exists that Reactor 1 is now completely empty of fuel.
An inspection was carried out of Bradwell’s LC36 submission to proceed to a new decommissioning staff structure. The station’s processes were seen to be being applied correctly. Although there are still outstanding enablers which need to be completed before the staff structure can be implemented. Further inspections of the implementation of these enablers will be required.
Bradwell’s proposed Decommissioning Emergency arrangements, made under Licence Condition 11, were the subject of a silent hours demonstration to the site inspector. These arrangements were seen to be adequate, although some minor areas for improvement were identified.
3 Meetings
One meeting was held with the station regarding the Near Term Work Plan. The aim of this meeting was to ensure that any regulatory requirements were included in the plan of work covering the next two years.
Two meetings were held to discuss the station’s progress with its Long Term Improvement Programme. After a slow start this programme is now on schedule to be completed by April 2006.
A meeting was held with the Trades Unions Safety Representatives. This was a planned meeting with the aim of cross-communication of information. No significant issues were raised at this meeting.
A planned meeting of the EPCC was attended. No significant issues were raised.
Bradwell completed the final defuelling of Reactor 1 in early September, and of Reactor 2 in late December. HMNII is working collaboratively with Bradwell to carry out the checks needed to give HMNII confidence that no nuclear fuel remains on the site. This position was reached for Reactor 1 in December 2005 and is expected to be reached by March 2006 for Reactor 2 .
Licence Instruments
No Licence Instruments were issued during the period.
HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
St Peter’s House
Stanley Precinct
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 3LZ
05 January 2006