British Energy Generation Ltd Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station report - Q4 2010

Sizewell A and B stakeholders group quarterly report for October to December 2010

Inspections
Routine matters
Non-routine matters
Regulatory activity

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 Sizewell A and B Stakeholders Group (SSG) and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at Sizewell B. These reports are distributed quarterly and are also available on the HSE’s web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/llc/index.htm. Site inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate usually attend SSG meetings and will respond to questions raised there by members of the SSG.

Inspections

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) made inspections at Sizewell B on the following dates during the quarter:

25, 26, 27, and 28 October 2010
9, 10, and 30 November 2010
1, 2, 13, 14, 15 and 16 December 2010

Routine matters

Inspections at Site: Inspections are undertaken at site as part of the process for monitoring compliance with:

the conditions attached by HSE/NII to the nuclear site licence;
the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA) 1974 and
regulations made under the HSWA for example the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

This entails monitoring licensee’s actions on the site in relation to incidents, operations, maintenance, projects, modifications, safety case changes and any other matters which may affect safety. The licensees/operators are required to make and implement adequate arrangements under the conditions attached to the licence in order to ensure legal compliance. Inspections seek to judge both the adequacy of these arrangements and their implementation. In this period routine inspections of station covered:

Examination, Maintenance, Inspection and Testing.
Management of operations including control and supervision.
Modifications to plant, equipment and safety cases.
Emergency preparedness.
Incidents on the site.
Radioactive waste management.
Periodic safety review.
Quality Assurance and records.

In general the arrangements made and implemented by the station in response to safety requirements were deemed to be adequate in the areas inspected. However, where improvements were considered necessary, satisfactory commitments to address the issues were made by or are being sought from the licensee, and the site inspector will monitor progress during future visits. Where necessary, formal regulatory enforcement action will be taken to ensure that appropriate remedial measures are implemented to reasonably practicable timescales.

Inspections were carried out by the NII site inspector and NII specialists to review changes made in preparation for a planned increase in capacity of the fuel storage pond. The inspections included relevant operating rules, operating instructions, supporting documentation, staff training and activities undertaken by the licensee’s internal regulator. It was concluded that adequate arrangements had been made to support the planned changes.

The inspection programme included follow up work to review the delivery of commitments given by the licensee following issue of LI521, concerning modifications made to the pressuriser. The performance of measures introduced to provide improved forewarning of pressuriser heater well insert failure being of particular interest. It was concluded that the licensee is adequately fulfilling the commitments made.

A meeting was held on 16th December 2010 at Sizewell B to discuss the licensee’s strategy for the long term management of ion exchange resins that have been categorised as intermediate level waste (ILW). NII advised that improvements in the licensee’s written strategy are required in order to progress this work further.

Non-routine matters

Licensees are required to have arrangements to respond to non-routine matters and events. NII inspectors judge the adequacy of the licensee’s response including actions taken to implement any necessary improvements. Matters of particular note considered during the current period include the following:

There was one event during the reporting period that was categorised by the licensee as regulator reportable, in accordance with Site Licence Condition 7. The event concerned the contravention of an operating rule and involved the release of radiation monitors for maintenance work in circumstances that were not permitted. The matter was investigated by the NII site inspector and it was concluded that the actual consequences of the event were minimal. However the licensee has been requested to make appropriate improvements to procedures.

Regulatory activity

Under Health and Safety legislation NII Site Inspectors, and other HSE Inspectors, may issue formal documents to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Under nuclear site licence conditions HSE/NII issues regulatory documents, which either permission an activity or requires some form of action to be taken; these are collectively termed Licence Instruments (LI). In addition inspectors may issue enforcement notices to secure improvements to safety.

Four Licence Instruments were issued during this quarter:

LI 522 on the 5th October 2010 – Licence Condition 23(6) suspension of approved operating rules relevant to the fuel storage pond.
LI 523 on 25th November 2010 – Licence Condition 28(4) specification requiring the plant maintenance schedule to be submitted for NII approval.
LI 524 on 18th November 2010 – Licence Condition 23(5) approval of amendments made to operating rules relevant to the fuel storage pond.
LI 525 on 26th November 2010 – Licence Condition 22(1) specification not to implement a strategy for the long term management of intermediate level waste ion exchange resins without the agreement of NII.

The Executive Summaries for LI 522, LI 523, LI 524 and LI 525, which give an overview of the decision making process

Transforming our business

HSE’s Nuclear Directorate (ND) continues work on a programme of change entitled 'Transformation' which is intended to help ND realise its aims to become recognised as a world-class regulator. Over the coming months, ND’s focus will include improving the way it engages with all of its stakeholders, including communities around nuclear licensed sites, to explain the work that it does and the regulatory decisions it makes.

ND will keep stakeholders fully informed of changes and any decisions that are made through channels including:

The HSE Nuclear eBulletin (visit www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/ebulletin to subscribe);
Site stakeholder group and local liaison committee reports;
ND's newly re-launched website (www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear).

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions regarding ND’s Transformation programme, please get in touch by emailing ONRenquiries@hse.gsi.gov.uk.