Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
February 2025
Aim of inspection
The purpose of the NSR19 Compliance Inspection at the University of Oxford was to provide assurance to ONR that the operator’s accountancy 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 operating records and accounting records, which are traceable to the accounting reports provided to the ONR and are underpinned by suitable accountancy arrangements.
Subject(s) of inspection
- FSE 1 Leadership and Management for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 10 Quality Assurance and Control for NMACS - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 2 Organisational Culture - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 3 Competence Management - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 4 Reporting, Anomalies, and Investigations - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 5 Reliability, Resilience and Sustainability - Rating: GREEN
- FSE 6 Measurement Programme and Control - Rating: GREEN
- 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: AMBER
- NSR19 Reg06 - Accountancy and control of qualifying nuclear material - Rating: GREEN
- NSR19 Reg07 - Accountancy and control plan - Rating: AMBER
- NSR19 Reg08 - Replacement, amendment and revocation of accountancy and control plan - 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 ONR Compliance Inspection at University of Oxford (QUOX), 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 QUOX 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 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 Assessment Guidance (TAG), 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 QUOX, I found: -
- The BTC is presented in the correct I-H format. However, I note many addresses are listed. QUOX is a single MBA and the most appropriate address and contact details would suffice. Sections 5, 6 and 7 refer to an unknown spreadsheet. The agreed PIT date should be stated as it differs from that stated in NSR19 and Section 11 is embedded within another document. Therefore, I judge the BTC to be inadequate under NSR19, Regulation 3 and requires a full review and update.
- In my opinion, the implementation of NMACS is adequate. However the ACP is inadequate under NSR19 Regulation 7(4) and requires a full review and update to address shortfalls such as: typographical errors and sense check throughout the document. NMACS implementation can be supported by documenting more of the existing processes and procedures pertaining to controlling and accounting for qualifying nuclear material (QNM).
I compared the NMACS arrangements and implementation against ONR’s regulatory expectations. Based on the findings, I judge that the University of Oxford (QUOX) does not adequately comply with NSR19’s statutory requirements, and does not adequately meet ONR’s Safeguards regulatory expectations for NSR19 Regulations 3 and 7(4).
Noting ONR’s inspection rating guidance, I judge than an overall rating of GREEN is appropriate for this review and I will raise a L4 Regulatory Issue to monitor progress against the shortfalls identified.
Conclusion
This report presents the findings of the ONR Inspection of QUOX which reviewed their NMACS arrangements and implementation.
I have identified minor shortfalls and regulatory advice against Regulations 3 and 7(4), for which I shall raise a L4 Regulatory Issue to monitor progress against the Findings identified.
In practice I was satisfied with QUOX management and control of NMACS expectations, I have judged that, overall a rating of GREEN is merited for this intervention.