Approval of Studsvik UK Ltd’s Nuclear Safety Committee Terms of Reference and Arrangements for Urgent Safety Proposals

Executive summary

This report considers the adequacy of the terms of reference for the licensee’s Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC) and the licensee’s arrangements for considering / advising on urgent safety proposals.

Studsvik UK Ltd has developed their NSC terms of reference to meet the requirements of the new Metals Recycling Facility Safety Management System and the current administration of the NSC. The draft terms of reference were prepared for submission to the Metals Recycling Facility NSC, and subsequently submitted for Approval by the Executive.

Licence Condition (LC) 13(1) requires licensees to establish a NSC or committees to consider and advise the Site Licence Company on specific topics. LC 13(2) requires the licensee to submit to the Executive for approval the terms of reference of any NSC, and LC 13(3) requires the licensee to ensure that once approved no alteration or amendment is made to the terms of reference unless the Executive has approved such alteration or amendment.

Studsvik UK Ltd submitted their amended Nuclear Safety Committee terms of reference in September 2012. The terms of reference had been revised to meet the requirements of the new Metals Recycling Facility Safety Management System and the current administration of the NSC, including the Licensee’s arrangements for dealing with urgent safety proposals.

In considering this request the arrangements were assessed against LC requirements and internal guidance. An inspection was conducted to test the adequacy of implementation of these arrangements.

The terms of reference of the NSC, WP/MRF/042 Revision A, meet the requirements as stated in LC 13. The minutes of the previous meetings are clear and concise and from the minutes it was concluded that the committee are providing adequate advice and challenge.

The competency of the NSC is judged to be appropriate and as a whole provides good strength and depth in nuclear safety matters. The licensee has made due provision for independent membership.

This assessment has confirmed that the Studsvik UK Ltd terms of reference for the Metals Recycling Facility NSC and their arrangements for dealing with urgent safety proposals are adequate. Therefore this project assessment report recommends the following:

• A Licence Instrument (LI)No. 506 be granted under LC 13(3) of Schedule 2 to the Nuclear Site Licence No. 91, approving the Licensee’s amended terms of reference for its NSC for Metals Recycling Facility, thereby withdrawing LI No. 3.
• A LI No. 507 be granted under LC 13(11) of Schedule 2 to the Nuclear Site Licence No. 91, approving the licensee’s arrangements for obtaining consideration, or advice on, urgent safety proposals.