Galson Sciences Ltd - Drigg
GSL was the Environment Agency's Lead Contractor for the review of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL)'s 2002 post-closure safety case (PCSC) and PCSC Development Programme in the period 1997-2005. This work consisted of three separate contracts, each of which was won through a multi-tender process, our continued success in which indicates the Environment Agency's satisfaction with our work.
Leading up to the submission of BNFL's PCSC in 2002, the review had the following objectives:
- To determine whether the developing PCSC was likely to be consistent with current legislation and guidance, to provide an adequate basis for regulatory decision making, and whether it was adequately supported by BNFL's programme of site investigation and characterisation, research, safety analyses and monitoring.
- To identify regulatory and technical issues that may affect the assessment of post-closure safety, and to develop detailed review criteria against which any responses made by BNFL on issues raised may be assessed.
- To identify the need for any further work, such as audits of BNFL's programme, examination of further BNFL documents, assessment of BNFL's modelling codes, and/or independent calculations on selected topics.
- To identify and communicate the need for any further work by BNFL for preparation of a PCSC to meet regulatory expectations.
These objectives provided the basis for the review of the 2002 PCSC, which focused on:
- Ensuring that emphasis was placed on regulatory review, as well as assessing the scientific and technical integrity of the PCSC.
- Identifying key areas that are of potential significance to radiological safety and to management of the site.
- Recommending possible authorisation conditions.
The Drigg safety case evaluation was a first-of-a-kind review in the UK, and the first regulatory application of the GRA ("Disposal Facilities on Land for Low and Intermediate Level Waste Disposal: Guidance on Requirements for Authorisation") to a real site. Key project deliverables have become public documents, and great care was needed to ensure that such documents communicate clearly the views of the Environment Agency.