The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NDA Sites Monthly Performance Update

General Evaluation - Key Elements

• The programme delivers work below budgeted costs.
• Programme schedule performance is broadly inline with expectations.
• Electricity generation for Period and Year to Date is above target.

For financial year 2008/9 site plans are over pressured.  This means that the NDA set budgets for sites that contained more scope of work than there was available funding to complete.  Setting over pressured budgets is a tactic to build the sites cost efficiency target into their baseline scope.  It is important to note that sites can only carry out the total value of work in their budget by making the necessary savings to fund the over pressured work.

Year to Date Cost and Schedule Performance
At the end of January 2009, the programme delivered work for less than planned cost.  Measured against the year to date budget the programme of work at the end of January is broadly in line with expectations.

Earned Value Performance Management. Please note: We use Earned Value Performance Management to measure programme performance.  This compares the budgeted cost of work that was scheduled with the budgeted cost of work that was actually performed to determine schedule performance and the budgeted cost of work actually performed with its actual cost to determine cost performance.

Electricity generation at the fleet of Magnox nuclear reactors operated by the NDA is above target for the month of January 2009 and above target for the Year to Date.

Items of Interest

Programme - Key Elements

• Dounreay has received planning permission from Highland Council for the Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository.

Dounreay has received planning permission from the Highland Council for the Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository and now only requires sign-off by Scottish Ministers.  

In January Highland Council granted planning consent to allow low-level waste to be deposited beneath fields close to the eastern edge of the site.  If their decision is ratified by Scottish Ministers, excavation work should begin next year.  About 100 people will be employed on construction.  In 2014, the site wants to begin filling up the first containers with concrete and move them into position in the underground vaults.  By 2025, all the vaults should be back-filled with concrete and covered over, leaving little visible sign of the burial site for Dounreay that lies below.

Safety and Environment Performance

Safety and Environment - Key Elements

• One INES event at Sellafield.
• Two RIDDOR events at Sellafield.
• One environmental non compliance at Oldbury.

Nuclear Safety

One International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) Level 1 events have been reported from NDA sites during the month.

At Sellafield a condensate leaked occurred from a flange on a ventilation duct outside Magnox reprocessing plant.  The liquid fell onto non-controlled area ground and trench by Street 9. This event is likely to also be categorised by EA as an environmental non-compliance.

Radiological Protection

The sites provide data on average individual dose, maximum individual dose and collective dose. These metrics are measured separately for SLC employees and for contractors. Dose figures are reported by calendar year rather than financial year and the following two graphs show average individual doses and maximum individual doses respectively (ordered by employee dose) for dosimeters worn by workers in calendar year 2008 and processed to date. Average individual doses and maximum individual doses should be compared with (and are all well below) the legal annual limit of 20 mSv.

Dosimetry is the measurement of absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to ionizing radiations.

Industrial Health and Safety

Two events reportable under RIDDOR have occurred in the month:  

Both incidents were slips, trips and falls at Sellafield resulting in minor injuries.  

RIDDOR stands for the reporting of injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995.  RIDDOR '95 requires the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences. It applies to all work activities, but not to all incidents.

Environmental Protection

One environmental non-compliance was reported in the month.

At Oldbury an EA routine water sample contained fat/oil above the site's limit. The oil had come from a leaking oil cooler that was identified and isolated. The site cannot currently test for fats and oils.  

An Environmental Non Compliance is a breach of a permit condition set by the Environment Agency or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency that prevents or controls risk of pollution to the environment.  

Please note
We give the actual number of occurrences in each category. Not all sites employ the same number of people and/or undertake the same activities. This must be taken into account before comparisons between sites can be made.