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 URENCO (Capenhurst) Ltd Local Liaison Committee and covers activities associated with the regulation of safety at the URENCO (Capenhurst) Ltd Nuclear Licensed Site. These reports are distributed quarterly and are available also from the Internet at http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/index.htm. Site Inspectors of HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate normally attend LLC meetings and will be happy to respond to 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’s Nuclear Directorate on 0151-951-4382.
Nuclear Safety Directorate
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
The site was visited by NII inspectors on:-
Each NII Site Inspector has an inspection programme to inspect compliance of operations on the site with the 36 Nuclear Site Licence Conditions (LCs). During this quarter particular attention has been paid to compliance by the licensee to licence conditions:-
No issues arose from the compliance inspections undertaken during this period that required formal regulatory action.
The NII site inspector, accompanied by three other NII inspectors, observed the licensee’s Level One (site wide) Emergency Exercise in November. The exercise was considered by NII to be an adequate demonstration of the site emergency arrangements. Good co-operation was reassuringly observed between the two Capenhurst licensee companies, as well as between the Urenco Fire & Rescue Service and the County Fire & Rescue Service. Some minor learning points arose from the exercise, which have been communicated by NII to the licensee.
The licensee had provided NII with a Pre-Commencement Safety Report and the Safety Commissioning Schedules safety documentation, for an extension to an enrichment facility. The potential radiological impact of the plant extension was assessed by an NII specialist inspector, with a satisfactory outcome, prior to NII then permissioning the active commissioning of the plant extension, by the issuing of two "Acknowledgement" Licence Instruments in early October.
Discussions have continued with the licensee regarding the commissioning of additional raft storage areas for uranium hexafluoride cylinders on the site. The licensee had prepared the Pre-Commencement Safety Report for the project and an associated ALARP justification document. An NII specialist inspector assessed the on and off site radiological impact and associated ALARP justification of the licensee’s raft storage proposals, following an NII site inspection of a new storage raft in August. NII has accepted the licensee’s proposal to commission the storage raft with a limited number of uranium hexafluoride cylinders, after which the radiological impact will be reassessed by the licensee and reported to NII, before any further uranium hexafluoride cylinders may be placed on to the new storage raft.
A plant inspection was conducted in December, accompanied by a safety representative, of facilities used to maintain some process equipment used in enrichment plant operations. The facility was found to be fit for purpose and appropriate measures had been provided for the radiological protection of the workforce.
A meeting was held with the licensee to discuss the forthcoming reorganisation of the Health, Safety & Environment Department. The licensee has since provided NII with the associated "Management of Change" safety documentation, in accordance with the licence condition 36 arrangements, for assessment by NII, prior to implementation of this organisational change.
There remain proposals to lease Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) owned land and facilities, yet to be presented to NII by Sellafield Limited – Capenhurst Works. The land is currently licensed to Sellafield Limited – Capenhurst Works and is proposed to be leased to Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited. The plan is to eventually reconfigure the boundary between the two licensed sites. The proposals cover areas of the site associated mainly with electrical distribution and fire fighting water supply facilities.
The site inspector participated in the Local Liaison Committee meeting held in November, reporting on NII inspection and assessment findings during the preceding six months.
The site inspector participated in a productive meeting with the licensee’s Safety Representatives in December.
None.
No regulatory enforcement action was necessary in this quarter.
The Inspectorate has powers under the licence to issue Consents, Approvals and Directions. In addition, the Inspectorate uses Licence Instruments to issue Specifications, Acknowledgements and Agreements under either the conditions attached to the Licence, or arrangements made by Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited for complying with those conditions. The Consents/Approvals/Directions and License Instruments issued during this quarter were –
| Date | Type | No. | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 October 2007 | Acknowledgement | 510 | Acknowledgement of Safety Commissioning Schedules for an extension to an enrichment facility. |
| 3 October 2007 | Acknowledgement | 511 | Acknowledgement of Pre-Commencement Safety Report for an extension to an enrichment facility. |
Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited NII Site Inspector
January 2008