Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection
- August 2026
Aim of inspection
The aim of this inspection was to sample evidence of Sellafield Limited's (SLs) arrangements for the Highly Active Liquor Evaporation and Storage (HALES) facility cooling water valve replacement modification, in order to inform a regulatory judgement regarding the permission for this activity to proceed.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC22 - Modification or experiment on existing plant - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
I judged the adequacy of the dutyholder's readiness to conduct the cooling water valve replacement proposal, within the Highly Active Liquor Evaporation and Storage (HALES) facility. Sellafield Limited (SL) has requested ONR’s agreement under arrangements made under licence condition 22 (1) (HPCP 668) for temporary suspension of cooling water flow to HALES and partial system drain down to facilitate the replacement of three valves (LV0137, LV3890 and LV3935). The inspection was devised to sample the dutyholder's arrangements for:
- inclusion of OPEX from previous modifications to replace the valves
- training, competence and knowledge of the operators
- operating instructions
- any previous modifications to plant that might change the required approach
and allowed an assessment of the personnel, teams and management and supervision of the activities devised to facilitate the project.
I was content with the dutyholder's arrangements for LCs 22 associated with the HALES cooling water valve replacement permission, and I am content to recommend removal of the regulatory holdpoint associated with this activity.
Conclusion
Based upon my sample, I consider that the dutyholder's arrangements associated with the expectations for Licence Condition 22, for the HALES cooling water valve replacement are adequate. I am therefore content to recommend removal of the regulatory holdpoint associated with this activity, and that a rating of GREEN (no formal action) to be appropriate for this inspection.