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 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 Inspectorate 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 Information Centre on 0151-951-4103.
This report will be put onto the HSE Website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm under ‘Local Liaison Committee Reports’.
Nuclear Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
St. Peter's House
Bootle
Merseyside L20 3LZThe HMNII Site Inspector made the following planned visits during the period:
24 – 28 January; 21 – 25 February; 29 – 31 March.
Other HMNII Inspectors visited the site during the quarter to discuss the resumption of flask handling operations within the ponds and the re-licensing of Chapelcross in preparation for the formation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).Routine inspections continued throughout the period to check compliance with the conditions attached to the Nuclear Site Licence. Improvements associated with mandatory training have been put in place and work was in hand during the quarter to improve compliance arrangements associated with the identification of conditions and limits necessary in the interests of safety, and the removal of radiological waste from the site.
Enhancements to the arrangements for complying with the Ionising Radiation Regulations have been made and improved reassurance monitoring facilities have been installed to reduce the likelihood of contamination leaving radiologically controlled areas.
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.
On 18/1/05 the Chapelcross Exercise Review Meeting was attended. Progress on addressing the learning points from previous exercises, and in particular exercise “BYRON” that took place on 8/9/04, was discussed and the outline scenario for the next Level 1 Exercise was agreed.
There were no Level 1 Exercises held during the quarter however the detailed scenario for the next Level 1 Exercise, planned for 27/4/05, was agreed.
A joint inspection was undertaken with SEPA on 30/3/05. Progress had been made, since our last inspection in July 04, on the removal of low level radioactive waste from site. Proposals for processing, and final disposal, of site wastewater containing traces of oil were also discussed. Enhanced arrangements have been put in place for monitoring waste being sent off site for disposal and the installation of a site gate radiation monitor, planned to be in place later in the year, will provide additional reassurance.
Work continued on the re-licensing of Chapelcross as part of the re-structuring of BNFL in preparation for the formation of the NDA. A new Site Licence was issued on 18/3/05 and came into effect on 1/4/2005. Two associated Licence Instruments were also issued and these are described in the section below on Regulatory Activity. Magnox Electric Limited is now licensed to operate and manage the site on behalf of the NDA.
Good progress has been made on producing the Regulatory Schedule. The Schedule identifies commitments between Regulators and the site, and identifies where associated work packages are covered in the near term work plans that have been produced by the site for the NDA.
All absorbers were replaced before the end of the previous quarter. A final approach to criticality was undertaken on Reactor 4 in February and the results were as predicted.
The flask handling trials were successfully completed and a satisfactory safety case, covering the resumption of flask handling operations in the ponds, was provided during the quarter. A License Instrument was issued to permit the operations to go ahead and a flask containing irradiated fuel was sent to Sellafield at the end of the quarter.
The Inspectorate was satisfied with the submission covering the new flask handling facility and a Licence Instrument was issued that permitted the start of construction of the facility. Other submissions continued to be assessed by the Inspectorate and associated Licence Instruments, permitting further upgrades of the fuel route, are likely to be issued during the next quarter.
Assessment work continued on the POSC and the Inspectorate was satisfied with the safety arguments provided to justify the start of most of the modifications required to implement the POSC. A Licence Instrument was therefore issued to permit the start of the relevant modifications.
Discussions took place at Bootle and Chapelcross on the staff re-structuring proposed to reflect the requirements of the POSC.
The consultation period for the Environmental Statement (ES) ended during the quarter. The ES had been submitted to support an application for a Consent to decommission the site in accordance with the Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations 1999. Subject to a satisfactory position being reached on the consultation process, the Inspectorate should be able to grant a Consent before the end of the summer.
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.
Agreement (Licence Instrument No 502) was issued on 24/1/05. The Agreement permits the start of construction of the new flask handling facility.
Agreement (Licence Instrument No 503) was issued on 10/2/05. The Agreement permits the start of construction of most of the modifications required to implement the POSC.
Agreement (Licence Instrument No 504) was issued on 22/3/05. The Agreement permits the resumption of flask handling operations in the ponds.
Approval (Licence Instrument No 500) was issued on 18/3/05 under the new licence. The Approval covers the terms of reference for the new Nuclear Safety Committee set up by Magnox Electric Limited.
Specification (Licence Instrument No 501) was issued on 18/3/05 under the new licence. The Specification requires all documents considered by the new Nuclear Safety Committee to be furnished to the Inspectorate within 14 days.