- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-002 (SAF)
- Date: April 2021
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This Intervention Record (IR) details the planned Safeguards accountancy focussed compliance inspection at Sellafield Limited. (SL). This inspection focussed on the Material Balance Area (MBA) National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) Central Laboratory - MBA QS26 (MBA QS26), as defined in the Basic Technical Characteristics (BTC) for the Qualifying Nuclear Facility (QNF), which primarily consists of ‘Areas’ which house QNM processing and storage facilities.
The purpose of this inspection was to judge SL’s compliance against the following Regulations in Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19) on a sampled basis:
- Regulation 6 – Accountancy and control of qualifying nuclear material
- Regulation 9 – Operation of Accountancy and Control Plan
- Regulation 10 – Operating Records
- Regulation 11 – Accounting Records
- Regulation 12 – Accounting Reports
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
A team of 3 ONR Safeguards (SG) Inspectors conducted an accountancy focussed compliance inspection at Sellafield from 20-21 April 2021 inclusive. This inspection focussed on MBA QS26 accountancy arrangements and their implementation.
This intervention was informed by, and performed in-line with, ONR's guidance which can be found on ONR’s website.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
No significant or minor shortfalls in compliance against NSR19 were identified during this intervention.
Based on the sample I inspected during this intervention, I am satisfied that SL met ONRs regulatory expectations and were compliant with NSR19. We noted good practice which linked the accountancy systems between the plant paper-based system and electronic Nuclear Material Accountancy System (NMAS). There are continuous improvement aspirations to develop an electronic system to complement the paper-based system in time. As such, I am satisfied that SL are compliant with NSR19 Regulations 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the areas sampled during the inspection.
Three observations that identified areas for improvement were conveyed to the operator for their consideration. These were associated with timely communication to ONR when, for example: -
Sub-gram rounding’s have taken place. It would be beneficial for ONR to understand the sub-gram quantity and SL have proposed to include additional information within the comments field of the ICR to explain.
Raising topics for discussion at regular Level 4 accountancy meetings relating to anomalies such as the expected Receipt Domestic (RD) from an unauthorised sample purchase.
Delays in transfer of qualifying nuclear material due to unavoidable issues such as having a fume hood out of operation resulting in the ORACLE system not being updated with current, up to date location of QNM.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on the sample inspected during the intervention, I am satisfied that SL are implementing their arrangements for accountancy and control of QNM in-line with regulatory expectations and are compliant with NSR19 Regulations 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12. I am satisfied, based on my sample of previously submitted accountancy reports to ONR, accounting and associated operational records sampled at site were correct and complete. I did not identify any Significant or Minor shortfalls.
Upon consideration of the ONR guidance on inspection ratings I judge that a rating of GREEN (no formal action) is appropriate.