The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

There is a risk that technical issues affect delivery.

As a result of site limitations

• Maintain outline designs and Generic Disposal System Safety Case (DSSC) to inform the site selection process.
• Preliminary Site Evaluations will support the site selection process.
• The issues management process captures and evaluates issues to ensure they are addressed by the work programme.
  
• Work with the Nuclear Energy Agency and other colleagues to develop approach to addressing and communicating retrievability issues to stakeholders.

As a result of inventory change

• Maintain outline designs and Generic DSSC through the inventory change process. Letter of Compliance (LoC) process seeks to ensure that all wastes can be disposed of.

As a result of changes to regulatory requirements, e.g. changes in dose limits

• Liaison with Regulators, e.g. Regulatory Interface Management Meeting

There is a risk that insufficient stakeholder support affects delivery.

As a result of insufficient community support

• Support community partnerships and Government by providing information and attending meetings as requested.
• Ensure that RWMD's use of contractors leaves adequate independent advice available for communities and other stakeholders.

As a result of insufficient regulator support

• Agreement exists with Regulators to review the programme.
• Work with local planning authorities, the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding planning consent.

As a result of insufficient general stakeholder support

• RWMD has a Public & Stakeholder Engagement and Communications strategy and plans.
• The Stakeholder Engagement and Communications team actively engages with stakeholders.
• Make appropriate use of overseas visits to build confidence.

There is a risk that physical resource affects delivery.

As a result of unavailability of key equipment/plant for surface-based investigations

• Development of the commercial and contract strategy for surface-based investigations.
• Review the options for securing drilling rigs and crews with supply chain through engagement (e.g. supplier days and analysis of feedback).

As a result of external limitations on recruitment 

• Recruitment plans are embedded in the 2011/12 Annual Business Plan.
• Business Case for Preparatory Studies in place. 

As a result of internal inability to attract or retain key staff, e.g. competition from other major programmes (e.g. New Nuclear Build).

• Recruitment plans are embedded in the 2011/12 Annual Business Plan.
• NDA performance and succession management system in operation.
• Develop internal staff via international exchange/secondment (e.g. overseas programmes, Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)).

As a result of inability of wider NDA to provide business support to RWMD

• RWMD's safety support requirements are defined in the Safety and Environmental Management Prospectus (SEMP) and Organisational Baseline Document (OBD).
• Options exist to bring the work in-house subject to recruitment constraints.

As a result of commercial issues - lack of suitable suppliers for surface-based investigation due to market constraints.

• Development of the commercial and contract strategies and supply chain engagement is being progressed within the site characterisation project.

As a result of degradation of historic information records or knowledge

• Information Risk Management Work Package initiated. RWMD Information Assets managed by Asset Owners.

There is a risk that legal or regulatory challenge affects delivery.  

As a result of legal challenge

• RWMD seeks legal advice when required. Statutory requirements are identified in the Permissions Schedule.

As a result of regulatory challenge

• Agreement exists with regulators to review the programme of work, including the Generic DSSC. Research and Development Strategy in place.

There is a risk that insufficient Government support for the Geological Disposal Facility affects delivery.

As a result of Government political changes

• Work with DECC to support the site selection process.
• Communications teams reiterate key messages. 
• Work with all the major political parties and civil servants to ensure they all understand the need to deal with our legacy wastes.
• Public and Stakeholder Engagement & Communications Strategy and supporting plans.

As a result of failure of an overseas Geological Disposal programme

• RWMD is a member of the International Association for Environmentally Safe Disposal of Radioactive Materials (EDRAM) and other international groups.
• NDA and RWMD bilateral agreements provide intelligence on developing issues in overseas programmes.

There is a risk that funding constraints affect delivery.   

As a result of external (to NDA) funding constraints 

• Business Case for Preparatory Studies.
• RWMD attendance at Geological Disposal Implementation Board  (GDIB) and the Geological Disposal Steering Group (chaired by DECC's Senior Responsible Officer) to ensure that spending decisions are informed by robust business cases. 

As a result of internal (to NDA) funding constraints

• Business Case for Preparatory Studies remains valid.
• Annual Business Plan agreed annually at Repository Development Management Board (RDMB). 

There is a risk that Health, Safety and Security issues affect delivery. 

As a result of office health, safety and security

• Defensive driving training.
• Working safely Institutaion of Occupational Safety and Health training. 
• Health and Safety Committee.
• Accident reporting system - safety events reported in the monthly report and discussed at RDMB.
• Use of video or teleconferencing is encouraged.

As a result of Nuclear Health, Safety, Security, Safeguards or construction accident 

• Safety and Environmental Key Performance Indicators being used. SEMP and OBD in place and being maintained.
• Outline designs address Construction Design Management and other safety and safeguard requirements.