HSE Reviews BAE Systems Mmarine Ltd's decommissioning strategy for Barrow nuclear licensed site

HSE Press Release: E066:04 14 May 2004

The Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report on its review of the decommissioning strategy for the BAE SYSTEMS Marine Ltd (BAES) nuclear licensed site at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. HSE's HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) undertook the review, in consultation with the Environment Agency.

The review considers BAES's strategy in relation to regulatory guidance, and considers the underlying assumptions made and whether the plans submitted are comprehensive and appropriate.
Key findings of the review include:

• Overall, HSE considers BAES's strategy to be generally appropriate at this time;
• BAES expects to use existing authorised disposal routes for decommissioning wastes;
• BAES intends to review the strategy on a regular basis to ensure that it remains valid. HSE and the Environment Agency intend to review the strategy again in five years time to ensure that it remains appropriate;
• Where appropriate, HSE will progress issues from this review with the licensee as part of its routine regulatory work.

'BAE SYSTEMS Marine Ltd's strategy for the decommissioning of the Barrow nuclear licensed site: A review by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate', is available on HSE's web site at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/barrowqqr.pdf

Notes to editors

1. BAES is the Site Licensee under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) for the Barrow nuclear site.
2. The review was undertaken in accordance with the 1995 White Paper, 'Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Final Conclusions' (Cm 2919, Department of the Environment, HMSO, 1995, ISBN 0 11 08539 5). This stated that the Government would ask all nuclear operators to draw up strategies for the decommissioning of their redundant plant and that HSE would review these strategies on a quinquennial (five-yearly) basis, in conjunction with the environment agencies.
3. Similar reviews of other licensees' strategies have been (or are being) undertaken and reported on by HSE. These quinquennial review reports, together with other reports on the activities of nuclear licensees and background information on nuclear safety regulation can be found on HSE's web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm

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