A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), sometimes referred to as a General Agreement, is essentially an administrative agreement between ONR and another / other party to ensure that the parties involved understand each other's responsibilities. It is not a legally binding document, but is used to govern relationships.
- Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between ONR, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on the collaboration on the assessment of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) designs
- Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH)
This MoU aims to promote the prevention of major accidents and limitation of their consequences for human health and the environment. The MOU was reviewed in 2023 to ensure it was GDPR compliant, CASMG/CABSG descriptors were simplified and bilingual regulators names added. Effective from:10 August 2017. Agreement updated 25 October 2023. It is between:- Health and Safety Executive,
- Office for Nuclear Regulation,
- Environment Agency,
- Natural Resources Body for Wales, and
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Memorandum of Understanding between ONR and Department Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Relates to overall relationship for the provision of ONR services to the DESNZ nuclear cluster and sets out the parties’ expectations with respect to the funding thereof. Effective from: 21 July 2023 - Memorandum of Understanding between ONR and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
Provides the high level framework for how the activities of ONR and NDA with respect to the decommissioning and clean-up of designated sites, installations and facilities, and the health and safety of workers and others, will be coordinated. It is recognised that ONR is the regulator of nuclear installations and sites which fall within the NDA Group, for which NDA has statutory responsibility. Effective from: 8 March 2023 - Provision of legal services
This MoU sets out the services GLD provides to ONR. This includes legal advice on policy making, planning casework, the development of primary and secondary legislation and the conduct of public litigation. GLD will also provide ancillary services such as support in relation to ONR parliamentary questions, ministerial correspondence and subject access and freedom of information requests. Effective from: 20 July 2022 - Data Protection and Information Sharing
This MoU sets out the arrangements ONR and HSE have agreed are effective following separation of ONR’s IT systems from HSE. It covers fundamental principles and working arrangements for all envisaged information handling and reciprocal data management. Effective from: 31 October 2020 - Memorandum of Understanding between ONR and SEPA
The purpose of this MoU is to ensure effective cooperation and collaboration between ONR and SEPA in the regulation of nuclear safety, security, radioactive materials transport, nuclear safeguards and environmental protection on nuclear licensed sites and at other sites where both ONR and SEPA have regulatory functions. Effective from: 8 January 2019 - Effective Regulation of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17)
The purpose of this MoU is to ensure that following the transfer of regulatory responsibility for enforcement of some transport related elements of IRR17 from HSE to ONR, there is appropriate awareness and shared understanding of respective regulatory remits, consistency in relation to interpretation of IRR17 requirements and associated enforcement, and effective cooperation and collaboration as appropriate in relation to transport of radioactive material. The MOU was updated in 2021 to ensure the agreement was GDPR compliant and add supplementary detail on information sharing. Effective from: 4 December 2018. Reviewed: 24 February 2021 - The implementation of arrangements for sharing information on and reporting incidents to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Relates principally to how BEIS, ONR and the agencies (HSE, HSE Northern Ireland, and the environment agencies) make use of the International Nuclear and Radiological Events Scale (INES) to fulfil the requirements for the reporting and sharing of information regarding reportable incidents, including the loss, theft or discovery of high-activity sealed sources, other radioactive sources and radioactive material of concern. Effective from: 10 September 2018
- Changes to Ownership within the civil nuclear industry
Ensures effective coordination over matters concerning changes to ownership or part ownership of five strategic entities:- Holders of nuclear site licenses
- Developers of civil nuclear construction sites
- Tenants operating on nuclear licensed sites
- Approved carriers of nuclear material
- Requesting parties for the Generic Design Assessment process
- Memorandum of Understanding between ONR and HSE
Its purpose is to ensure effective cooperation and collaboration in the regulation of conventional (non-nuclear) health and safety, including policy matters and the enforcement of health and safety law, at GB nuclear licensed, new nuclear build and authorised defence sites, arising from the transfer of regulatory responsibility from HSE to ONR under the Energy Act 2013. This MoU complements the existing over-arching MoU between the two organisations ("Cooperation between HSE and ONR"). Effective from: 26 March 2024. - Arrangement for the exchange of information and co-operation with the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland
Arrangement for the exchange of information and co-operation in the area of regulation of safe nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes between the Office for Nuclear Regulation of Great Britain and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland. Effective from: 23 March 2016 - Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
This MoU relates to the regulation of health and safety, including policy matters and the enforcement of health and safety law, on all of Britain's railways and sets out the interface between railways operated within nuclear sites and the rest of Britain's railway network. Effective from: 21 December 2015 - Memorandum of Understanding with the Environment Agency (EA)
Relates principally to the regulation of nuclear safety, security, transport and environmental protection on nuclear licensed sites and other sites where both ONR and the Environment Agency have regulatory functions. Effective from: 18 August 2015. Reviews in 2018, no changes made to 2015 MOU. - General Agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Outlines the relationship between MoD and ONR in discharging their respective roles and responsibilities for nuclear, radiological and conventional health and safety (H&S) in respect of the Defence Nuclear Programme. Effective from: 28 January 2015 - MoU with Natural Resources Wales
Relates principally to the regulation of nuclear safety, security, transport and environmental protection on nuclear licensed sites and other sites where both ONR and NRW have regulatory functions. Effective from: 17 December 2014 - Cooperation between HSE and ONR
Under section 96 of the Energy Act 2013, ONR must cooperate with HSE. This agreement outlines the principles and key areas of cooperation.Effective from: 1 April 2014 - Work related deaths protocol
Emphasises the importance of working together to investigate thoroughly and to prosecute appropriately those responsible for work related deaths. Two separate protocols are in place for England and Wales (owned by the National Liaison Committee) and Scotland (coordinated via the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal). Effective from: 1 April 2014