- Site: Sellafield
- IR number: 21-036 (SAF)
- Date: February 2022
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards’ inspection and assessment plan 2021/22 for Sellafield Limited, ONR Safeguards carries out a number of safeguards compliance inspections at the Sellafield site. One such intervention was performed within the Special Nuclear Material (SNM) Value Stream to assess Sellafield Limited’s compliance with the requirements of the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19) , specifically regulations 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 20 and reporting schemes set out in parts 2-4 in relation to nuclear material accountancy. For this intervention the Sellafield Product and Residue Store (SPRS) was selected (QS37 and QS39 Material Balance Areas)., and the inspection planned as an accountancy focused compliance inspection. The purpose of an accountancy focused inspections is to provide confidence to ONR that the operator is making adequate operating records and accounting records, which are traceable to the accounting reports, and are underpinned by suitable accountancy arrangements.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
This intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance (as described in the relevant technical inspection guides, which can be found on ONR’s website (onr.org.uk).
As part of my preparation for the delivery of this intervention, the following formal ONR guidance documentation was used:
- ONR Guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS)
- SG-INSP-GD-001 Rev 3 - Safeguards Technical Inspection Guide (TIG)
The inspection targeted the completeness and correctness of the operating and accounting records (source documentation) underpinning a sample of transactions declared in the accountancy reports received by ONR for this facility. The inspection also sampled evidence for the adequate implementation of Sellafield Limited’s accountancy arrangements by competent personnel, and whether these arrangements are delivering the expected outcomes on plant.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The inspection comprised discussions with Sellafield Limited staff, review of plant records and other documentation, and a plant walkdown including physical verification of a sample of cans on plant.
On the basis of the evidence sampled, I am satisfied that Sellafield Limited has presented adequate operating and accounting records that are traceable to and underpin the declarations within the accountancy reports submitted to ONR under Regulation 14 of NSR19. I have undertaken discussions with the key Sellafield Limited staff on plant and within the site’s Nuclear Material Accountancy and Safeguards (NMAS) team. Based on these discussions and my sampling of training records I consider that Sellafield Limited has appointed competent personnel to key roles for accountancy and control of Qualifying Nuclear Material at SPRS.
I reviewed a sample of the accountancy arrangements for SPRS and judged that they were internally consistent, valid and identify appropriate responsible persons. I provided Sellafield Limited with three pieces of Regulatory Advice covering minor amendments to these arrangements and have raised a single Level 4 regulatory issue to monitor an update to the local Safeguards Record Retention Schedule.
I conducted a plant walkdown within SPRS to physically verify a sample of cans within the facility and also sampled operating records for the import of cans to the facility. On the basis of the evidence seen, I consider that Sellafield Limited is adequately implementing their accountancy arrangements on plant. During the walkdown it was necessary to adjust my physical verification sample due to a fault affecting the inspection trolley used to identify cans in the store. Following the inspection, I liaised with the ONR Safety inspector for SPRS on this issue and gave regulatory advice for Sellafield Limited to consider the adequacy of the inspection trolley maintenance schedule.
I provided feedback to the site on the inspection findings at a close-out meeting with management representatives present.
Conclusion of Intervention
No matters requiring immediate regulatory attention were identified during this inspection.
Based on the inspection sample I judge that Sellafield Limited is compliant with the requirements for nuclear material accountancy set out in NSR19, specifically, Regulations 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 20, and the reporting schemes set out in Parts 2-4. Noting ONR guidance on inspection ratings in ONR-INSP-GD-064 Issue 5.1, I consider this inspection to merit a rating of GREEN with one Level 4 Regulatory Issues raised.