Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: December 2024
Aim of inspection
The purpose of the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19) Compliance Inspection at Grundon Waste Management Ltd (QGRU) was to provide assurance to ONR that the operator’s accountancy and management arrangements are appropriate and proportionate for the qualifying nuclear facility and that they are adequately implemented for nuclear material accountancy and control of Qualifying Nuclear Material (QNM). This includes maintaining adequate operator records and accounting records, which are traceable to the accounting reports provided to the ONR and are underpinned by suitable accountancy arrangements. This organisation is newly registered to Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards NSR19 Reg31 reduced reporting regime and no accountancy reports have yet been submitted. QGRU are on the inspection schedule to ensure they are heading in the right direction regarding compliance. The information gathered forms good regulatory intelligence in our baseline view of operators by understanding how they operate.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 7 Nuclear Material Tracking - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 8 Data Processing and Control - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 9 Material Balance - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg03 - Declaration of basic technical characteristics - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg06 - Accountancy and control of qualifying nuclear material - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg09 - Operation of an accountancy and control plan - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg10 - Operating records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg11 - Accounting records - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg31 - Declaration of basic technical characteristics, stock list and accounting records for qualifying nu - Rating: GREEN
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This report presents the findings of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Compliance Inspection of Grundon Waste Management Ltd (QGRU), reviewing the arrangements and implementation of the Nuclear Material Accountancy & Safeguards (NMACS).
The purpose of this planned inspection was to inform ONR’s judgement regarding the adequacy of QGRU NMACS arrangements and implementation to demonstrate compliance with the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19), Regulations 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 31(5). This planned inspection was undertaken in accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards subdivision operational schedule for 2024/2025, based on regulatory intelligence, related to the clarity of references made within the Basic Technical Characteristics (BTC) and Accountancy and Control Plan (ACP) and the ONR integrated inspection strategy for Qualifying Nuclear Facilities with Limited Operation (QNFLO) which details the regulatory risk from the qualifying nuclear material (QNM) holdings along with previous NSR19 compliance level.
To inform my judgements on the adequacy of the arrangements and implementation of NMACS, I utilised the Safeguards Technical Inspection Guidance (TIG) and our safeguards expectations proportionate to a QNFLO, based on the ONR guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS).
On reviewing the arrangements and implementation of NMACS at QGRU, I found:
I compared the NMACS arrangements and implementation against ONR’s regulatory expectations. Based on the findings I judge that QGRU NMACS does adequately comply with NSR19’s statutory requirements and does adequately meet ONR’s Safeguards regulatory expectations for NSR19 regulations 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 31(5).
Noting ONR’s inspection rating guidance I judge that a rating of GREEN is merited for this review.
The purpose of this planned inspection was to inform ONR’s judgement regarding the adequacy of QGRU NMACS arrangements and implementation to demonstrate compliance with the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (NSR19), Regulations 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 31(5). This planned inspection was undertaken in accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) Safeguards subdivision operational schedule for 2024/2025, based on regulatory intelligence, related to the clarity of references made within the Basic Technical Characteristics (BTC) and Accountancy and Control Plan (ACP) and the ONR integrated inspection strategy for Qualifying Nuclear Facilities with Limited Operation (QNFLO) which details the regulatory risk from the qualifying nuclear material (QNM) holdings along with previous NSR19 compliance level.
To inform my judgements on the adequacy of the arrangements and implementation of NMACS, I utilised the Safeguards Technical Inspection Guidance (TIG) and our safeguards expectations proportionate to a QNFLO, based on the ONR guidance for Nuclear Material Accountancy, Control and Safeguards (ONMACS).
On reviewing the arrangements and implementation of NMACS at QGRU, I found:
- The correct BTC Template (Annex I-H) is used. I observed this to be detailed, providing a cradle to grave description of the holding of qualifying nuclear material. There was also a clear description of material received, which included images of containers used for storage. The procedures for qualifying nuclear material accountancy and control was well written with a clear description of QGRU’s business concerning QNM within sections 10 and 11.
I compared the NMACS arrangements and implementation against ONR’s regulatory expectations. Based on the findings I judge that QGRU NMACS does adequately comply with NSR19’s statutory requirements and does adequately meet ONR’s Safeguards regulatory expectations for NSR19 regulations 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 31(5).
Noting ONR’s inspection rating guidance I judge that a rating of GREEN is merited for this review.
Conclusion
I compared the details of the NMACS arrangements included in the BTC and ACP and supporting documents against ONR’s Safeguards regulatory expectations. Based on the findings during this inspection, I judge QGRU NMACS does adequately signpost, underpin, and explain how NMACS is being implemented at the site. Therefore, the NMACS does meet my expectations as described by the Safeguards TIG & TAG and the ACP document and arrangements does meet my expectations as described by the ONMACS FSE as appropriate for QNFLO.
Overall I judge that Grundon Waste Management Ltd (QGRU) does fulfil the reporting requirements of NSR19 Regulation 31(5), and does meet all the regulatory requirements of NSR19 Regulations 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Noting ONR’s inspection rating guidance I judge that a rating of GREEN is merited for this assessment.
Overall I judge that Grundon Waste Management Ltd (QGRU) does fulfil the reporting requirements of NSR19 Regulation 31(5), and does meet all the regulatory requirements of NSR19 Regulations 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Noting ONR’s inspection rating guidance I judge that a rating of GREEN is merited for this assessment.