Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
February 2026
Aim of inspection
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR’s) Sellafield Strategy, each year ONR performs a series of planned inspections to seek assurance of compliance against selected licence conditions, targeted at those facilities with significant importance to nuclear safety. One such inspection was undertaken at Special Nuclear Materials Value Stream (SNM) facilities South within the Sellafield site in West Cumbria to sample evidence of implementation of Sellafield Limited's arrangements for compliance with Licence Condition (LC) 11 (Emergency arrangements) in order to inform a regulatory judgement regarding the licensee’s compliance with its legal duties under the nuclear site licence.
The inspection also sought evidence that in SNM South, Sellafield Limited implements and maintains effective security emergency preparedness and response (EP & R) arrangements which are integrated with the wider Emergency Response arrangements (LC11) as described in their approved Nuclear Site Security Plan (NSSP).
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSyP 10 - Emergency Preparedness and Response - Rating: GREEN
- LC11 - Emergency arrangements - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
The inspection was undertaken on 11 February 2026 by the Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) site inspector supported by the security inspector for SNM South and by the site inspector for legacy ponds.
This was a joint inspection with security and the evidence sampled cover both LC11 and Sellafield Limited's compliance with Section 2.10 of their approved Nuclear Site Security Plan (NSSP) Version 2.
The inspection involved a planning phase and a site visit, which included discussions with relevant Sellafield Limited personnel, review of records, sampling of information contained within electronic databases, other documentation and an inspection of the Access Control Points (ACP) and Incident Control Centre (ICC).
From a mixture of sampling records, interviewing Sellafield Limited personnel and facility visits, I concluded the following:
No significant matters were identified that required immediate regulatory attention.
SNM South have adequate annual and five-year drills and exercise schedules, and I was provided with assurance that all Emergency Instructions (EIs) and Emergency Operator Instructions (EOIs) are being practiced.
SNM South were effectively planning, contacting and reporting drills and exercises, and I saw evidence where SNM South responded to events by incorporating additional drills and exercises. I was provided with assurance that all drills and exercises for 2025/2026 will be delivered.
I saw evidence that adequate Service Level Agreements and Cross Plant Resource Agreements are in place.
I saw evidence that those personnel who delivered emergency duties on the day of the inspection were suitably trained to undertake their emergency duty team roles.
Adequate Access Control Points (ACP) and Incident Control Centre (ICC) were in place.
One L4 Regulatory Issue has been raised to complete the Complexity and Consequences matrix document and the update of the 5 year drill and exercise plans for all SNM South facilities, and to update the EIs for EDS to reflect the correct Cross Plant Resource Agreement.
The evidence sampled demonstrated that the integrated EP&R arrangements in SNM(S) comply with Sellafield Limited's NSSP in respect of exercising to train personnel and the structures and processes to deliver effective command, control and communications during and post nuclear security events.
I also identified a number of minor shortfalls and I provided regulatory advice.
Conclusion
On the basis of the evidence sampled at the time of the inspection, I found that SNM is compliant with the licensee’s corporate arrangements for LC 11.
Taking all of the above into account, and noting the ONR guidance on inspection ratings, it is my opinion that, on balance, an inspection rating of GREEN (i.e. no formal action) for Licence Condition 11 is merited here.
One L4 RI raised for Sellafield Limited to complete the Complexity and Consequences matrix document and the update of the 5 years drill and exercise plans for all SNM South facilities, and to update of the EIs for EDS to reflect the correct Cross Plant Resource Agreement.
The security inspector judge that the sampled evidence demonstrates compliance with the NSSP in respect of claims targeted in SNM South and an inspection rating of GREEN is merited here.