BURGES SALMON LLP

Glossary of Nuclear Terms

June 2015

Edited by
Gareth Davies
Editor:
Gareth Davies, Davies Nuclear Associates Ltd

Co-Editors:
Thomas Carpenter, Burges Salmon LLP

Sarah Raby, Burges Salmon LLP

Sponsor:
Ian Salter, Head of Nuclear Practice, Burges Salmon LLP

Glossary of Nuclear Terms Peer Reviewers for 2015:

Ian Bonnett, Davies Nuclear Associates Ltd

Adrian Bull, National Nuclear Laboratory

Samantha Dancy, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Tristram Denton, Hitachi Europe Ltd

Anna Ellis, Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Neil Foreman, Centronic Ltd

Dr Justin Goldberg, Jacobs Engineering (UK) Limited

Colin Goodrum, LDA Design

Peter Haslam, Nuclear Industry Association

Allison Hunt, National Skills Academy for Nuclear

Stuart Hunt, EDF Energy

Terry Kelly, Cavendish Nuclear

David Lawson, GD Energy Services

Mark Liddiard, HR Wallingford

Jean Llewellyn, National Skills Academy for Nuclear

Amanda MacMillan, Horizon Nuclear Power

John McNamara, NuGeneration Ltd

Melanie Sachar, EDF Energy

Terry Selby, NuGeneration Ltd

Dr Tim Stone, former Expert Chair, Office for Nuclear Development

Chris Williams, Nuvia

Version Date: June 2015

© 2015 Burges Salmon LLP

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All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction of this Glossary, whether in whole or part, must
clearly attribute authorship and acknowledge that © remains with Burges Salmon LLP. The
moral rights of Burges Salmon LLP have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Disclaimer:

This Glossary is intended as a general guide only. The information and opinions which it
contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study, nor to provide legal advice, and
should not be treated as a substitute for legal advice containing particular situations. Legal
advice should always be sought before taking any action based on the information contained
in this Glossary. The publishers and the peer reviewers bear no responsibility for any errors
or omissions contained herein.
Foreword
“This Glossary is a wonderful example of an initiative by a leading nuclear firm to help the
industry in a great spirit of collaboration - which is part of what’s so special about this
industry. We need to make entry into the industry as easy and welcoming as possible. This is
ever more important as the industry expands over the coming years with increasing needs for
the UK’s decommissioning expertise globally and as the new build program in the UK
continues to grow. This Glossary is a real help and is used daily by experienced practitioners
and new entrants alike - indeed the inspiration for some of this year’s new entries came from
keen-eyed and inquisitive new entrants. I very much commend the Burges Salmon team and
all the contributors for their efforts and enthusiasm.”

Dr Tim Stone, June 2015

Preface
The nuclear industry uses a unique array of jargon, terminology and acronyms, which can be
bewildering and confusing to newcomers.

This Glossary of Nuclear Terms has been produced to assist those new to the UK civil
nuclear industry, by explaining and de-mystifying some of the terminology that will be
encountered on a daily basis. Understanding the terminology will lead to a greater
understanding of the sector, its components and how it works.

The Glossary was originally produced for the 2011 Edition of the "Burges Salmon Guide to
Nuclear Law", with a shortened version appearing on the NIA’s dedicated supply chain
website SC@nuclear ([Link]) to assist organisations and individuals
interested in joining supply chain initiatives. This year we hope it will support, for example, the
latest NDA initiatives to encourage more SMEs into the NDA Estate supply chain, as well as
helping overseas companies looking to the opportunities in the UK.

Due to its popularity, the content has been updated and its scope broadened in this version.
As with any glossary, different people will have different views on the emphasis and
interpretation of terms. We are keen for readers to contribute items or re-define them to keep
the Glossary refreshed, up to date and as comprehensive and useful to readers as possible.

We hope you find the Glossary a useful aid in your introduction to the nuclear industry. If you
would like to suggest any changes or additions or have any enquiries on content or any
issues raised then please do not hesitate to contact Gareth Davies.

Special thanks is extended to all those who contributed to the writing of this Glossary, and
particularly the sector-expert peer reviewers.

Ian Salter, Head of Nuclear, Burges Salmon LLP

[Link]@[Link]

+44 (0117) 939 2225

Gareth Davies, Davies Nuclear Associates Ltd

[Link]@[Link]

+44 (0)7764 197732

Copies of the Glossary can be found and downloaded free at:

[Link]
Glossary of Nuclear Terms

Acronym/Term Definition
2004 Protocol Adopted by the contracting parties to the Paris and Brussels
Conventions in 2004, this Protocol revises the Conventions so that
additional compensation is provided to more people and for a wider
scope of nuclear damage. The 2004 Protocol shifts more of the onus for
insurance on to industry and establishes new limits of liability which,
notably, increase the minimum amount of a nuclear operator’s liability.

During 2011, DECC issued a public consultation on how the 2004

Protocol should be implemented into UK law by way of amendment to
the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

Following public consultation, the Government issued its response in

March 2012. A draft order will now be laid before parliament with the
purpose of amending the Nuclear Installation Act 1965. A draft copy of
the order can be viewed on the DECC website.

AAC Assistant Access Controller

AACP Alternative Access Control Point

Absorbed Dose Quantity of energy imparted by ionising radiation to unit mass of matter
such as tissue. Unit gray, symbol Gy. 1 Gy = 1 joule per kilogram. In
terms of an effective dose, the Sievert is used – see Sievert for details.

ABWR Advanced Boiling Water Reactor: The latest design in operation globally
of one of the most common types of reactor BWR.

The UK ABWR is a generation III+ reactor being developed and offered

in the UK by Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy. For more information see
[Link]

AC Access Controller

Accelerated In line with the commitment made in the NDA’s Strategy, the NDA
Decommissioning 2011/2012 Business Plan earmarked several Magnox sites
Sites (Trawsfynydd and Bradwell) for accelerated decommissioning. Under
this plan, funds are directed at swift closure of certain plants.

Accredited Site Site accredited to hold government protectively marked materials / site
covered by Nuclear Site Licence. Access is only allowed to duly
authorised and vetted staff.

ACIN Adverse Condition Investigation

ACP Access Control Point

ACR-1000 The Advanced CANDU Reactor® (ACR-100®) is an evolutionary,

Generation III+, 1200 MWe class heavy water reactor, designed to meet
industry and public expectations for safe, reliable, environmentally
friendly and low-cost nuclear generation. The ACR-1000 development
program has now been completed, with no reactor sales pending.
Actinides / A group of 15 elements with atomic number from that of actinium (89) to
Actinoids lawrencium (103) inclusive. All are radioactive. Group includes uranium,
plutonium, americium, and curium. Actinides are elements with partial
occupation of the 5f electron shell. Lawrencium is strictly a transition
metal (d-block element) but conventionally included in the actinide
grouping. Elements heavier than uranium are collectively termed Trans-
uranics.
Activation This term refers to the process of creating a radioisotope. This is
achieved when a stable element is bombarded with either neutrons or
protons.
Activation Activation products are materials made radioactive by neutron
Products activation. Fission products and actinides produced by neutron
absorption of nuclear fuel itself are normally referred to by their specific
names, and activation products reserved for products of neutron capture
by other materials, such as structural components of the nuclear
reactor, the reactor coolant, control rods or materials in the
environment.
Activity 1 The rate at which radioactive material disintegrates or decays
per unit time. The units can be measured as either a Curie (Ci)
or a Becquerel (Bq).
2 An activity involving radioactive material that requires a Licence.
Acute exposure A short, intensive exposure (less than one day) to radiation or to toxic
substances which can result in severe biological harm or death.
Additional A further agreement between a State and the IAEA containing further
Protocol measures to improve the efficiency and strengthen the effectiveness of
the IAEA safeguards system.
ADR European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road. ADR is implemented in UK law by the
CDG Regulations.
ADS Approved Dosimetry Service
AEC Assistant Emergency Controller
AECC Alternative Emergency Control Centre
AECL AECL is Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology
organisation. For over 60 years, AECL has been a world leader in
developing peaceful and innovative applications from nuclear
technology through its expertise in physics, metallurgy, chemistry,
biology and engineering.
AECL is no longer the Design Authority for the CANDU reactor design
(see CANDU).
AF Assessment Finding: ONR findings placed on the Requesting Party
during the GDA process.
AGR Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor: A term used for the second generation
of British Power Reactors, operated by EDF Energy Nuclear Generation
(formerly British Energy) which has been part of EDF since 2009. The
fuel used in the reactor is slightly enriched uranium oxide clad in
stainless steel tubes. The coolant is carbon dioxide and the moderator
is graphite. The fuel is manufactured by Westinghouse Ltd at
Springfields and reprocessed in THORP.
AIC / EIC Alternative / Emergency Indication Centre
ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable: A term used in radiation protection,
meaning to make every reasonable effort to keep exposure to ionising
radiation as far below the dose limits as practical, consistent with the
purpose for which the licensed activity is undertaken, taking into
account the state of technology, the economics of improvements in
relation to state of technology, the economics of improvements in
relation to benefits to the public health and safety, and other societal
and socioeconomic considerations, and in relation to utilization of
nuclear energy and licensed materials in the public interest. A concept
from the ICRP, reflected in the Basic Safety Standards Directive
96/29/Euratom.
ALARP As Low As Reasonably Practicable (social and economic factors taken
into consideration): ALARP is unique to the UK context. ALARP is the
process by which radiological impacts on workers and the public are
kept as low as reasonably practicable. Ensuring that risks are ALARP is
a fundamental requirement of UK health and safety legislation. The
fundamental steps in the ALARP process are:
(a) define and characterise the problem;
(b) generate the potential options to address the problem;
(c) assess the options and their merits;
(d) identify and justify the best option or options; and
(e) implement the selected option.
In the UK, regulatory bodies including Environment Agency and ONR
equate the concepts of ALARA and ALARP. Where design has an
impact on safety and the environment, it may be possible to undertake
one integrated assessment that includes the relevant aspects of BAT
and ALARP as many of the objectives of BAT and ALARP are
consistent.
ALO Ambulance Liaison Officer
Alpha particle An ionising particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons. It is a
Helium nucleus – i.e. a helium atom stripped of its two electrons.
AMRC Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre: The aerospace equivalent
of the Nuclear AMRC, based on an adjacent site in Rotherham.

ANIA The Award for Nuclear Industry Awareness: A level 2 qualification

designed by industry to provide essential knowledge for all entrants to
the nuclear sector. It is ideal for Apprentices, Graduates and people
transferring into the nuclear sector from another industry.
Annual Dose Total radiation dose received by an individual in a one year period.
AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: A statutory designation. The legal
framework for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is provided by the
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The Act confirms that the
purpose of designating AONBs is the conservation and enhancement of
the natural beauty of the area.
AP1000 Advanced Passive 1100MW nuclear reactor designed by Westinghouse
(owned by Toshiba), one of the technologies considered for new nuclear
build in England and Wales. This design differs from the EPR™ reactor
design of AREVA in that this reactor is smaller and is made up of a
series of modules that can be constructed off-site for transport and
fitting on-site.
AP1400 KEPCO-designed PWR used domestically but also being built in Abu
Dhabi (Barakah NPP) and being marketed elsewhere.
AREVA Global integrated fuel cycle company encompassing mining,
conversion, enrichment, fuel manufacture, reactor design and
construction, reprocessing and waste management. The
designer/manufacturer of the EPR™, ATMEA1™ and KERENA™
nuclear reactors. The group has an expanding renewable energy
business including offshore wind, solar, bioenergy and energy storage.
ARM Availability, Reliability, Maintainability: Often expressed as target
performance levels that (safety-critical) plants and systems must meet
or better, to underpin the nuclear safety case. For example, key
systems must have a certain level of reliability or must be repairable
within a maximum time limit. The need to meet these targets often
influences both the strategy for the type and number of different parallel
/ independent systems and the EMIT Schedule (see EMITS).
Article 37 Opinion An opinion from the European Commission confirming that a State's
plan to dispose of radioactive waste is unlikely to result in the
radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another
Member State.
Article 41 A requirement for prospective operators to notify the European
EURATOM Commission of their intent to enter investment contracts for new nuclear
facilities.
ASN Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire: The French Nuclear Safety Authority is
tasked, on behalf of the French State, with regulating nuclear safety and
radiation protection in order to protect workers, patients, the public and
the environment from the risks involved in nuclear activities in France. It
also contributes to informing the citizens.
Associated A planning concept established by the Planning Act 2008 (section 115)
Development and relating to applications to the Secretary of State for development
consent for a NSIP. Associated Development, broadly, is that
development which is connected to the principal NSIP development for
which development consent is sought.
In England, the Secretary of State determines applications for
Associated Development where included within an NSIP application. In
Wales, responsibility for determining all Associated Development
applications lies with the local planning authority.
ATMEA A joint venture between Mitsubishi and Areva that will develop, market,
license and sell a new generation III pressurised water reactor.
Atom The atom is the smallest particle of an element. It consists of a central
core, or nucleus, that is made up of protons and neutrons. The protons
and neutrons are themselves made up of sub-atomic particles (Quarks
in particular). Electrons revolve in orbits around the nucleus.
Atomic energy This term refers to the energy that is released in nuclear reactions.
There are two chief ways this can occur. The first is nuclear fission,
whereby a neutron will initiate the breaking up of an atom's nucleus into
smaller pieces. The second is nuclear fusion, whereby two nuclei are
joined together under intense heat. It is more correctly called nuclear
energy.
Atomic mass The mass of an isotope of an element expressed in atomic mass units,
which are defined as one-twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
Atomic number The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Symbol Z.
ATP Authorisation to Proceed: Often issued by ONR in advance of formal
accreditation.
Authorisation See Licence or Permit.
Authority A direction given by the NDA to a contractor in accordance with the
Direction NDA's powers under section 18 of the Energy Act 2004.
Auxiliary A backup water supply for a nuclear power plant. It is used to supply
feedwater water to steam generators during reactor start up and shutdown, and
during accident conditions to remove decay heat from the reactor.
AWE Atomic Weapons Establishment: UK nuclear defence sites in Berkshire
(Aldermaston and Burghfield).
BA Breathing Apparatus
Ba Barium. A fission product of uranium-235.
BAC Barnwood Alert Centre
Backfill Material used to fill sections of a repository once waste has been
emplaced.
Background This is radiation which comes from cosmic and geological sources and
radiation from nuclear weapons testing and to which we are all exposed. Typical
examples of which include naturally-occurring radioactive materials (e.g.
radon which is associated with the decay of uranium and/or as an
induced fission product of thorium both of which naturally exist in small
quantities in granite) and global fallout which exists in our environment
as a result of nuclear weapon testing. Radiation which comes from
sources, by-product, or special nuclear materials regulated by the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission would not come under this definition.
The typically quoted average individual exposure from background
radiation is 360 millirems per year / 3,600 micros.
BACO Breathing Apparatus Control Officer
BACS Breathing Apparatus Control System
Balance of Plant Parts of the NPP which lie outside the nuclear and turbine islands.
Barrier Any material placed between radioactive substances and the
environment in order to prevent or restrict dispersal.
Base load The constant amount of power required to meet a continuous minimum
electricity demand.
Base load plant Can refer to facilities supplying power to meet the base load and also to
facilities which typically produce electricity at a constant and predictable
rate, such as nuclear and coal-fired, as opposed to facilities which
produce an intermittent output.
BAT Best Available Technique: Applying BAT is a UK regulatory requirement
and BAT must be demonstrated throughout the nuclear facility lifecycle.
“Best” means the most effective in achieving a high level of protection
for the environment as a whole.
“Available” requires consideration of:
(a) whether the techniques under consideration have been
developed on a scale which allows implementation in the
relevant industrial sector; and
(b) whether the conditions mean that techniques are economically
and technically viable, taking into consideration both the
benefits and detriments.
“Techniques” includes both the technology used and the way in which
the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and
decommissioned.
BATNEEC Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost: A modification
 of BAT incorporating an element of financial realism.
BCD Burst Can Detection
BDBA Beyond Design Basis Accident
BE British Energy is the former name of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation
Limited, the UK’s largest electricity generator, which since 2009 has
been a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF Energy. It is the current site
licensee for the AGR and PWR second-generation power stations in the
United Kingdom. The stations currently operated by BE are: Hunterston
B, Torness, Heysham 1 and 2, Hartlepool, Hinkley Point B, Sizewell B,
and Dungeness B.
BECBC Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster.
Becquerel (Bq) The unit of radioactive decay equal to 1 disintegration per second. 37
10
billion (3.7 x 10 ) becquerels = 1 curie (Ci). The Becquerel is named
after Henri Becquerel, who shared a Nobel Prize with Pierre and Marie
Curie for their work in discovering radioactivity. See REM and Sievert
for comparison.
BEPPS Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store: A plant at Sellafield Limited
which is currently under construction, along with a new annex called
Direct Import Facility (DIF).
BERR Former name for what is now BIS (BERR also included the Energy brief,
pre-DECC).
Beta decay A particular type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle is emitted
from an atom. Beta decay can occur in two forms: beta minus or beta
plus.
Beta Emitter A radionuclide which decays by emission of an electron or positron.

-
Beta minus Beta decay in which an electron is emitted from an atom (β ).
Beta particle An electron emitted by the nucleus of a radionuclide in beta decay.
+
Beta plus Beta decay in which a positron is emitted from an atom (β ).
Beyond Design An accident that is more serious than the one against which the plant
Basis Accident was designed.
Biodiversity Term given to the variety of life, within and between all species of plants
animals and microorganisms and the ecosystems within which they live
and interact.
Biological Shield This is a mass of absorbing material which is placed around a reactor or
radioactive source in order to reduce the radiation to a level safe for
humans.
BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The key elements of BIS’s Strategic Programme are as follows:
(a) To promote the creation and growth of business and a strong
enterprise economy. This includes work to strengthen the UK’s
enterprise culture and environment, simplifying business
support and delivering stronger regional economies through
enhanced economic performance.
(b) To lead the better regulation agenda. This includes work to
reduce the administrative burden of regulation faced by
business by 25 per cent, ensuring enforcement of regulation is
consistent and proportionate and ensuring new regulations are
only brought in when benefits justify the costs.
(c) To champion free and fair markets, working with other countries
to liberalise international markets and support development,
developing rules to maintain competition and promote
competitive business environments in the UK and EU, and to
empower employees and consumers.
BIS is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned businesses
(such as the Royal Mail) that make a significant contribution to the UK
economy.
BNFL British Nuclear Fuels plc: Formerly a nuclear company owned by the UK
Government and the holding company for British Nuclear Group and
Nexia Solutions (now known as NNL).
On 1 April 2005, all BNFL assets and liabilities of BNFL were
transferred to the NDA under nuclear transfer schemes provided for by
the Energy Act 2004. Further assets were subsequently sold. In
October 2010, the Government announced that BNFL was to be
formally abolished.
BNI/BONI Balance of Nuclear Island: All components, equipment and systems
included in the nuclear island scope, with the exception of the nuclear
steam supply system (NSSS).
BOCI Balance of Conventional Island: All components, equipment and
systems included in the conventional island scope, with the exception of
the turbine generator plant.
BOO Build, Own, Operate. Rosastom will BOO the Akkuyu nuclear power
plant in Turkey.
Book of A requirement of Regulation 5(2)(d) of the Infrastructure Planning
Reference (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 in
relation to NSIPs. The book sets out relevant land interests, including
rights over, Crown ownership, and land subject to compulsory purchase
as a consequence of the development.
BPEO This term has now been replaced by BAT for environmental
optimisation. Permitted nuclear sites may still be using this terminology
based on historical practices.
BPM This term has now been replaced by BAT for environmental
optimisation. Permitted nuclear sites may still be using this terminology
based on historical practices.
Breeder reactor A reactor designed to produce more fuel (fissile material) than it
consumes.
Britain’s Energy West Cumbria has major nuclear and wider energy assets and
Coast internationally competitive expertise and skills in a range of related
activities, including environmental remediation, engineering and
decommissioning. Employment in Research and Development is double
the regional average. Britain's Energy Coast aims to utilise these
strengths and assist the UK to achieve its policy objectives and secure
jobs for the local economy.
Brussels The Brussels Convention Supplementary to the Paris Convention of 29
Convention / July 1960 was adopted in 1963 to provide additional funds to
Brussels compensate damage as a result of a nuclear incident where Paris
Supplementary Convention funds proved to be insufficient. The Brussels Convention
Convention stipulates that public funds are to be provided for this purpose, not only
by the State where the liable operator's nuclear installation is located,
but also by contributions from all parties to the Brussels Convention.
The principles of the Brussels Convention are implemented into UK law
by the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
BUE Backup Equipment
BUP Byproducts Utilisation Programme
Burnup Measure of thermal energy released by nuclear fuel relative to its mass,
typically Gigawatt days per tonne of fuel (GWd/t).
BWR Boiling Water Reactor: A reactor design where water is allowed to boil
in the core. The resulting steam is used to drive a turbine and electrical
generator, thereby producing electricity. Decommissioning BWRs has
to take into account the radioactivity of the turbines resulting from
leakage from fuel elements into the water and thus the steam which is in
direct contact with the turbines.
BWROG Boiling Water Reactors Owners Group
C&I / I&C Control and Instrumentation / Instrumentation and Control: The
collective term for all the electronics and measurement devices that
together run a nuclear power plant. NPP C&I comprises or contributes
to some of all of the following: automatic control of plant, alarms and
indications, visualisation of plant parameters, facilities to allow manual
plant control, automatic protection systems, engineered safety features.
CANDU CANDU Reactor: A Canadian-invented, pressurized heavy water
reactor developed initially in the late 1950s and 1960s. The acronym
"CANDU", a registered trademark of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited,
stands for “Canada Deuterium Uranium”. This is a reference to its
deuterium-oxide (heavy water) moderator and its use of uranium fuel
(originally, natural uranium). All current power reactors in Canada are of
the CANDU type.
CANDU Energy Candu Energy Inc. is a Canadian wholly owned subsidiary of Montreal-
based SNC-Lavalin Inc., specializing in the design and supply of nuclear
reactors, as well as nuclear reactor products and services. Candu
Energy Inc. was created in 2011 when parent company SNC-Lavalin
purchased the commercial reactor division of Atomic Energy of Canada
Limited (AECL), along with the development and marketing rights to
CANDU reactor technology.
Canister (waste) A vessel for waste for handling, transport, storage and/or disposal. It is
part of the waste container and the waste package. An example would
be molten glass poured onto high level waste glass and in a specially
designed canister, to cool and solidify. Canister usually refers to high
level waste.
CAP Corrective Action Program
CAP1400 SNTPC and Westinghouse enlarged development of the AP1000.
CARB Corrective Action Review Board
Carbon Floor The minimum value at which carbon can be traded. The setting of a
Price carbon floor price is essentially a regulatory/taxation policy which
obliges polluters to pay at least a minimum value for the right to pollute.
In the UK, this floor price was originally adopted as part of a range of
measures collectively referred to as Electricity Market Reform.
Care and A stage in the process of decommissioning a nuclear site. It begins
maintenance when the only significant buildings left on a site are the reactor buildings
and an ILW store – these will be removed at the dismantling stage.
Carrier Any person, organisation or government entity undertaking the carriage
of radioactive material by any means of transport.
CAT1 Material defined as such by Civil Nuclear Industry Classification Policy
issued by ONR, “Information Concerning the Use, Storage and
Transport of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material”.
CAT A/B/C Method of identification of the importance of a particular function, or a
functionality set of functionality, to nuclear safety. Definition provided in IEC 61226
Nuclear power plants - Instrumentation and control important to safety -
Classification of instrumentation and control functions.
Category I As defined in Part 5 of IAEA Document INFCIRC/225/Rev.4)
Nuclear Material
Category II As defined in Part 5 of IAEA Document INFCIRC/225/Rev.4)
Nuclear Material
CC Communications Co-ordinator
CCA Contamination Control Area
CCF Common Cause Failure: Failure of two or more items of redundant
plant, where the failure is linked by a common initiator.
CCFE The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy: The UK’s national
fusion research laboratory (formerly UKAEA Culham). Owned and
operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
CCGT Combined Cycle Gas Turbine: In a combined cycle gas turbine plant, a
gas turbine generator generates electricity and the waste heat is used to
make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine; this
last step enhances the efficiency of electricity generation. In a thermal
power plant, high temperature heat as input to the power plant, usually
from burning of fuel, is converted to electricity as one of the outputs and
low-temperature heat as another output.
CCR / MCR Central Control Room / Main Control Room
CCW Countryside Council for Wales: Welsh Government-sponsored body
with responsibility for nature conservation in Wales.
CDG Regulations Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure
Equipment Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 / 1348)
CDM Regulations Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
CEA Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives: The
French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, owned
and run by the French Government.
CEDE Committed Effective Dose Equivalent: The total dose to specific organs
or tissues from an intake of radiation multiplied by the applicable
weighting factor for that organ.
CEMS Continuous Emergency Monitoring Equipment
CESC Central Emergency Support Centre
CfD Contract for Difference: A commercial arrangement between the UK
Government and low carbon generators to set the strike price for
electricity generated by the new build nuclear reactors and other low-
carbon generation facilities. They take the form of a pre-agreed per
MWh price, when the market price is below this the Government will top
up the price to that agreed strike price in the contract for difference,
when the market price is above that strike price the generator will pay
the difference to the Government. The payments will be made through
the CfD Counterparty Company whose initial chairman is Dr. Martin
Read. The agreement provides long term revenue stabilisation for low
carbon generation.
CGNPG / CGN China General Nuclear Power Group: The proposed investors in the UK
EPR projects in association with EDF.
Chain reaction A reaction that initiates its own repetition. In a fission chain reaction, for
example, neutrons released in fission produce an additional fission in at
least one further nucleus. These, in turn, can be absorbed by other
fissionable nuclei, releasing still more neutrons. Where the number of
neutrons released in a given time equals or exceeds the number of
neutrons lost by absorption the fission chain reaction is self-sustaining.
Characterisation The process of classifying nuclear material.
Characterisation A plan to characterise a nuclear site, prior to and after remediation
Plan activities.
More generally, can be applied to any plan to characterise all or part of
a nuclear facility.
Chernobyl A nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl
incident Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. An explosion and fire released large
quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which
spread over much of Western USSR and Europe. It is considered the
worst nuclear plant accident in history, and is one of only two classified
as a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale alongside
the 2011 events at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan.
The Chernobyl site has been covered by a concrete and steel
encasement (a replacement project is underway and due to complete at
the end of 2017), and the large evacuation zone around it remains
largely uninhabited.
CHILW Contact Handled ILW: Package radioactive ILW that, due to its external
dose rate, is able to be directly handled without the need for remote
handling equipment.
CHP Combined Heat and Power or Cogeneration: The use of a heat engine
or a power station to generate both electricity and useful heat
simultaneously.
CI Conventional Island: That part of a nuclear plant that does not form part
of the nuclear island. The conventional island is sub-divided into the
turbine generator (i.e. the plant that converts the nuclear steam into
electricity) and everything else that needs to be designed, constructed
and tested to complete the conventional island i.e. the balance of
conventional island.
CID Capital Investment Decision
CITB Construction Industry Training Board
CITD The Construction Industry Training Board: The Sector Skills Council and
Industry Training Board for the construction industry.
Cladding This refers to the thin-walled metal tube that forms the outer jacket of a
nuclear fuel rod. Its primary purpose is to prevent corrosion of the fuel
by the coolant and the release of fission products into the coolant.
Aluminium, stainless steel, and zirconium alloys are typical cladding
materials.
Class 1 / 2 / 3 Method of identification of the importance of a particular item of plant to
plant nuclear safety. Definition provided in IEC 61226 Nuclear power plants -
Instrumentation and control important to safety - Classification of
instrumentation and control functions.
Clean-up A term used in conjunction with decommissioning. Once a nuclear
facility has been decommissioned the site needs to be cleaned-up to
remove any possible contamination. The site is then returned (after
consultation with the local community) to either a greenfield or
brownfield site.
Clearance Removal of certain levels of de minimis radioactivity from regulatory
control.
Cliff Edge Effect A significant consequence that is disproportionate to the change that
caused it.
Cm Curium: A transuranic radioactive element, atomic number 96. CM is
dense and silvery with a high boiling point.
CNC Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Formerly known as ‘UKAEA’ Constabulary,
the CNC was established on 1 April 2005, as directed by the Energy Act
2004. The CNC reports to an independent Civil Nuclear Police Authority
(CNPA); it operates under the strategic direction of the BIS. It is the
armed police force which is responsible for the protection of civil nuclear
material.
CNNC China National Nuclear Corporation: Large state owned enterprise. The
main body of the Chinese national nuclear technology and nuclear
power development and construction industry.
CNPP Combined Nuclear Pension Plan: Set up by the NDA pursuant to
Section 8 and Schedule 8 of the Energy Act 2004.
CNS 1 Civil Nuclear Security: Formerly the OCNS (see below), now
part of the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
2 Capenhurst Nuclear Services: A wholly owned subsidiary of
Urenco UK Limited which runs the former Sellafield Limited part
of the Capenhurst site under contract from the NDA.
CNSC Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: The CNSC regulates the use of
nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the
environment, and to implement Canada's international commitments on
the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and to disseminate objective
scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.
CNSiG Civil Nuclear Sharing in Growth
Cogent Skills Cogent Skills is the strategic skills and delivery body for the Science
based industries.
COL Combined Construction and Operating Licence: part of the US
regulatory environment relating to new nuclear build.
Collective The quantity obtained by multiplying the average effective dose by the
Effective Dose number of people exposed to a given source of ionising radiation. Unit
Sievert, symbol Sv. Frequently abbreviated to "collective dose".
COMARE Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment: An
independent advisory committee comprised of experts appointed from
academic institutions and responsible for advising on the health impacts
associated with natural and man-made radiation.
Combustion A permit to operate combustion plant from the EA under the
Activity Permit Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 as
amended. Required in relation to back up diesel generators for an
operational nuclear power station.
Commissioning The process of bringing new plant into operation.
Competent See Regulatory Body.
Authority
Condenser This is used to cool exhaust steam from a turbine below the boiling point
so that it can be returned to the heat source as water. In a pressurised
water reactor, the water is returned to the steam generator. In a boiling
water reactor, it returns to the reactor core. The heat removed from the
steam by the condenser is transferred to a circulating water system and
is exhausted to the environment, either through a cooling tower or
directly into a body of water.
Conditioning A facility which exists for the purpose of changing the chemical or
Facility physical form of a material to make it suitable for a specific purpose.
Also applied in waste management to a facility for processing waste to
condition it for storage, transport and disposal.
Conditions for The requirements of a receiving body in relation to the parameters with
Acceptance (CFA) which the material must comply in order for the material to be accepted
into the receiving body’s facility.

CoNE Centre of Nuclear Excellence – an initiative centred on West Cumbria.

Confinement The process of preventing the release of radioactive substances to the
environment during operation or following an accident.
CoNP Certificate of Nuclear Professionalism: A higher educational programme
developed in partnership between the NSA Nuclear, the Open
University and employers designed to equip individuals with the
necessary skills required for working within the nuclear industry.
Consignee Any person, organisation or government entity which receives a
consignment.
Consignor Any person, organisation or government entity which prepares a
consignment for transport.
Construction A masterplan which cover the construction period of a facility, which
masterplan may be multi phased and include all areas required for the laydown of
construction materials, spoil handling and staff requirements.
Consultation A requirement of s37 of the 2008 Planning Act in relation to Nationally
Report Significant Infrastructure Projects. Captures and reflects responses to
consultee groups and explain how the developer has met its duty (s49
of the Act) in the preparation of the application to have regard to the
views expressed.
Container (waste) See Canister.

Containment area During the construction of a facility designed to house radioactive

materials, a series of containment barriers is put up between the
materials inside and the environment outside the facility during
construction. This creates separate areas called "containment areas".
Contamination Radioactive material that is deposited on the surface of or inside
(radioactive) structures, areas, objects, or people.
Control of nuclear This function has two aspects:
materials
(a) All the provisions implemented by operators to ensure the
safety of the materials in their possession: monitoring and
accountability, containment, surveillance, physical protection of
materials and facilities and protection during transportation.
(b) Inspection by governmental or international bodies (e.g. IAEA,
EURATOM) to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the
above provisions.
In both cases control is aimed at preventing any subversive activities.
Control Rods Devices to absorb neutrons so that the chain reaction in a reactor core
may be slowed or stopped by inserting them further, or accelerated by
withdrawing them.
Controlled area An area outside a restricted zone but within the site boundary of a
nuclear facility. Access to such an area can be limited by the licensee
or the responsible organisation for any reason.
Controlled Waste Waste which is subject to the provisions of the Environmental Protection
Act 1990.
Controlling mind This legal concept has its origins in health and safety case law relating
to corporate manslaughter. In general terms, it is understood as the
concept of whether the actions of an individual equate to the “controlling
mind” of the company such that the individual should take on the
liabilities of the company.
The term is frequently used in nuclear and relates more generally to
health and safety responsibilities in respect of risk management on a
nuclear site. As the holder of the nuclear site licence, the site operator
holds specific responsibilities in respect of health, safety and risk
management on the nuclear site. The site operator is the only body that
can fulfil these responsibilities and therefore any other related company,
such as the owner of the site (i.e. the NDA in respect of NDA-owned
sites), the parent company of the SLC or even contractors entering the
site to carry out work on behalf of the SLC, cannot fulfil the role of
“controlling mind”.
Examples of behaviour which could be interpreted as “controlling mind”
by a company other than the site operator could include instructing the
operator to take specific decisions in respect of risk management on site
without recourse to an authorisation by the licensed operator. This
could include binding the operator to certain contractual obligations
which affect or restrict the way in which the operator manages risks on
site – the consequences of which could be that the instructing entity
“steps into the shoes of the controlling mind” and thereby assumes
liability by course of action.
Convention on The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
Supplementary (not yet in force)
Compensation /
CSC
Coolant Material such as water or pressurised gas that transfers heat from the
core.
Copper canister Sweden – encapsulation technique for the storage of spent nuclear fuel.
CORE Cumbrians Opposed to Radioactive Environment: Started in 1980 as
the Barrow Action Group to oppose the import of foreign fuel through
the port of Barrow-in-Furness for reprocessing at Sellafield. Since then,
CORE has widened its campaign remit to cover all aspects of
Sellafield’s operations including the radioactive sea and air discharges,
the resultant contamination of the local environment, and the health
detriment to local communities and wildlife. Its core mission is to stop
reprocessing, foreign imports, and aerial and sea discharges.
Core The central heat-producing part of a nuclear reactor which contains the
fuel assemblies.
Core Catcher Safety system incorporated into EPR designs to contain, spread and
cool the reactor core in the event of a core meltdown.
Core Melt Overheating of the core of a nuclear reactor resulting in the core
melting.
Corium Term used when referring to the molten core of a nuclear reactor.
CoRWM Committee on Radioactive Waste Management: An independent
committee appointed by the Government. Their original task was to
review the options for managing those higher-activity UK radioactive
wastes for which there is no agreed long-term solution. Their findings
were published in July 2006, to which Government responded in
October 2006, resulting in the incorporation of Nirex into the NDA and
the establishment of the UK strategy for managing intermediate level
nuclear waste within a deep geological disposal facility.
Count Measuring and monitoring the number of ionizing radiation particles
present using radiation detection equipment.
Counterparty The organisation that will pay or receive money under CfD contracts
Company between the Government and low-carbon generators. The money to
make the payments under the CfD contracts comes from the Levy
Control Framework. The spending cap under the Levy Control
Framework is set to rise from £2 billion in 2011-12 to £7.6 billion in
2020-21 (in 2011-12 prices).
CPR-1000 Chinese development of Areva 900 MW design used at Gravelines
nuclear site in France.
CRC Energy The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon
Efficiency Reduction Commitment) is the UK’s mandatory climate change and
Scheme energy saving scheme. The scheme started in April 2010 and is
administered by the Environment Agency. The scheme is central to the
UK’s strategy for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. It
has been designed to raise awareness in large organisations, especially
at senior level, and encourage changes in behaviour and infrastructure.
CRCE Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards
Crichel Down Non-statutory guidance which requires that all surplus land acquired by
Rules or under the threat of compulsory purchase is offered back to former
owners or their successors.
Critical / A medium containing a fissile nuclear material becomes critical when
Criticality neutrons are produced (by the fission of this material) at the same rate
as they disappear (through absorption and leakage to the outside). The
point at which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining.
Critical mass The smallest amount of fissile material needed to support a self-
sustaining nuclear chain reaction. The critical mass of a fissionable
material depends upon its nuclear properties (e.g. the nuclear fission
cross-section), its density, its shape, its enrichment, its purity, its
temperature and its surroundings.
CRL Chalk River Laboratories: CRL is a site of major research and
development to support and advance nuclear technology, in particular
CANDU reactor technology.
Cs Caesium. A fission product of uranium-235.
Cs-137 Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope of caesium which is formed as a
fission product by nuclear fission. In small amounts it can be used to
calibrate radiation-detection equipment and can also be used in cancer
treatments. Caesium shares similar chemical properties to other Group
1 elements including sodium and potassium.
If ingested, Cs-137 is distributed fairly uniformly throughout the body’s
soft tissue, resulting in exposure of those tissues which can be treated
with Prussian Blue (Ferric Hexacyanoferrate). The magnitude of the
health risk depends on exposure conditions. These include factors such
as strength of source, length of exposure, distance from the source, and
whether there was shielding between the tissue and the source (such as
metal plating).
CSJ Construction Safety Justification
CSN Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (Nuclear Safety Council): The sole
competent authority in matters relating to nuclear safety and radiological
protection in Spain.
The Mission of the Nuclear Safety Council is to protect the workers, the
public and the environment against the harmful effects of ionising
radiation, by assuring the safe operation of nuclear and radioactive
facilities and by establishing preventive and corrective measures
against radiological emergencies, whatever their origin.
CTA Company Technical Advisor
CTP Counter Terrorism Plan
Culham The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy ‘CCFE’ is the UK’s national
fusion research laboratory (formerly UKAEA Culham).
Curie (Ci) This unit is used to measure the intensity of radioactivity in a sample of
10
material. The Curie is equal to 37 billion (3.7 x 10 ) disintegrations per
second, which is approximately the activity of 1 gram of radium. A curie
is also a quantity of any radionuclide that decays at a rate of 37 billion
disintegrations per second. It is named after Marie and Pierre Curie,
who discovered radium in 1898.

CWS Cooling Water System: Once-through sea water cooling water systems
being adopted for UK sites and commonly used in coastally-sited NPPs.
DA Design Authority: The entity that has overall responsibility for the reactor
design process, approves design changes and is responsible for
ensuring that the requisite knowledge is maintained is referred to as the
design authority. The NPP operating company is frequently the only
organisation that has an overview of the plant design as a whole and of
the impact of operation on the design. It is normally expected to take on
the role of design authority.
DAC Design Acceptance Confirmation/Certificate: Written confirmation issued
by ONR that a nuclear reactor design has passed a Generic Design
Assessment (GDA, see definition below). ONR may issue an Interim
Design Acceptance Confirmation (iDAC) identifying issues to be
resolved by the requesting party before issuing a DAC. On 13
December 2012 ONR issued a DAC in respect of the UK EPR™ nuclear
reactor.
Dalton Nuclear Institute at the University of Manchester established in 2005 as a
Institute leading centre for nuclear research and education.
DCC Delivery Command Centre: Project management organisation
implemented at site to improve interfacing between engineering,
construction, and contracting companies.
DCF Dalton Cumbrian Facility
DCO Development Consent Order: Developers of nuclear power stations
must apply to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (rather than the
Local Planning Authority) for a Development Consent Order. If granted,
a DCO will combine a grant of planning permission with a range of other
separate consents, such as listed building consent. A DCO can include
rights to compulsorily purchase land. There are also special procedures
relating to cases such as commons, National Trust land, and land
protected under the Green Belt (London & Home Counties) Act 1938.
See also definition of IPC.

Decay Heat Heat produced by the decay of radioactive materials in a reactor that
has been shut down.
Decay, The decrease in the radioactive nature of any material with the passage
radioactive of time. This is due to the spontaneous emission from the atomic nuclei
of either alpha or beta particles and is often accompanied by gamma
radiation.
Decay Storage The process of allowing material containing short lived radionuclides to
decay so that the final waste is easier to dispose of as radioactive
waste, or until the point where the waste becomes exempt from specific
regulatory requirements.
DECC Department for Energy and Climate Change: The UK Government
department, created in October 2008, with overall responsibility for
policy relating to energy and climate change (together with OND in
relation to new nuclear). DECC is working to ensure that the UK
continues to enjoy a diverse and low-carbon energy mix, delivered
through a market framework to ensure competitive prices. DECC is the
sponsoring Government department for the NDA.
Decommissioning 1 The final phase in the life cycle of a nuclear installation covering
all activities from shutdown and removal of fissile material to
environmental restoration of the site through to its agreed End
State.
2 The process of closing down a facility followed by reducing
residual radioactivity to a level that permits the release of the
property for unrestricted use.
Decommissioning A plan for the decommissioning of a nuclear facility.
Plan
DECON This is a method of decommissioning in which the equipment,
structures, and portions of a nuclear facility and site containing
radioactive contaminants are removed. The contaminants are safely
buried in a low-level radioactive waste landfill or decontaminated to a
level that permits the property to be released for unrestricted use shortly
after cessation of operations.
Decontamination The reduction or removal of (radioactive) material from any structure,
area, object, or person. Decontamination may be accomplished by
treating the surface to remove or decrease the contamination.
De-designate / De- The formal process under the Energy Act 2004 by which a Designating
designation Direction is revoked or amended by the Secretary of State so that an
installation, site or facility (or part of an installation, site or facility) is no
longer subject to that Designating Direction.
Deep Geological A nuclear waste repository excavated below 300 m within a salt dome
Repository or bedrock. It entails a combination of waste form, waste package and
engineered seals that is designed to provide a high level of long-term
storage without future maintenance.
DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: DEFRA leads the
Government’s view on the radioactive waste issue in the UK.
De-licensing The process by which the nuclear site licence is revoked or surrendered
in accordance with the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 so that land is no
longer subject to a nuclear site licence.
Depleted Uranium Depleted Uranium is uranium primarily composed of the isotope
uranium-238. Typically, it will have a percentage of uranium-235 smaller
than the 0.7 percent found in natural uranium. It is obtained from used
fuel elements or as by-product tails, or residues, from uranium isotope
separation.
DEPZ Detailed Emergency Planning Zone: The offsite emergency planning
area around a nuclear site where the local authority must have a plan
for protecting the public in the event of an offsite nuclear emergency
pursuant to regulation 9(1) of REPPIR.
Design Basis The hypothetical accident that informed the design of the plant.
Accident
Designate / The statutory process by which the Secretary of State directs that NDA
Designating will have certain responsibilities to secure in relation to an installation,
Direction site or facility under the Energy Act 2004 through the issuing of a
Designating Direction. The Secretary of State must lay a copy of every
direction containing a designation before Parliament.
Designated Site 1 Nuclear sites designated under Section 3 of the Energy Act
2004.
2 All nuclear licensed sites are "designated sites" for the
purposes of section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and
Police Act 2005, making it a criminal offence to enter such sites
without the owner’s consent.
3 See SPA, SAC, AONB and National Park.
Detection Limit The level at which radioactivity can be detected above background
levels.
DCO A Development Consent Order: is a statutory Order which provides
consent for a project and means that a range of other consents, such as
planning permission, Marine licences and listed building consent will not
be required. A DCO can also include provisions authorising the
compulsory acquisition of land or of interests in or rights over land which
is the subject of an application.
DfES Department for Education and Skills in Wales
DfT Department for Transport (see also definition of RMTT)
DGENER European Commission Directorate-General for Energy
DGN Dangerous Goods Note: A transport document that gives details about
the contents of a consignment to carriers, receiving authorities and
forwarders.
The DGN is used to accompany hazardous goods in transit.
A DGN is used when transporting goods using all forms of transport
except air freight, in which case the IATA Dangerous Goods Declaration
is normally used.
When dangerous goods are transported, the consignment must be
accompanied by a document that declares what the dangers of the
goods are. By using a DGN, the same standard document is completed
for all consignments of dangerous goods, regardless of which port or
ICD (Inland Container Depot) they are going to.
DGSA Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

Direct Radiation Radiation received directly from a source such as a nuclear power plant,
rather than indirectly as a result of radioactive discharges.

Directive Wastes Waste subject to the provisions of the Waste Framework Directive
2008/98/EC of 19 November 2008.
Discharge Release of gaseous or liquid materials to the environment.
Dispersal The spread of a radioactive discharge in the environment.
Disposability An advisory process carried out by Radioactive Waste Management
Assessment Limited (RWM) on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
(NDA) to provide advice on whether a proposed waste package would
be suitable for geological disposal. The process is jointly agreed with
and monitored by the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment
Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Disposal In the context of solid waste, disposal is the emplacement of waste in a
suitable facility without intent to retrieve it at a later date. Retrieval may
be possible but, if intended, the appropriate term is storage. Disposal
may also refer to the release of airborne or liquid waste to the
environment (i.e. emissions and discharges).
Disposal Facility See Repository.
Diversity Two separate and independent systems that perform the same task so
as to reduce the chances of both failing at the same time.
DNB Dungeness B (Power Station): AGR power station operated by EDF
Energy.
DoE US Department of Energy (also known as USDoE)
Dose Measurement characterising the exposure of individuals subjected to
radiation. The term ‘dose’ is often mistakenly used instead of ‘dose
equivalent’.
(a) Absorbed dose: quantity of energy absorbed by matter (living or
inert) exposed to radiation. It is expressed in Grays (Gy).
(b) Dose equivalent: in living organisms, an absorbed dose has
different effect depending on the type of radiation (alpha, beta
and gamma). To take these differences into account, a dose-
multiplying factor is used to produce a “dose equivalent”.
(c) Effective dose: sum of weighted dose equivalents deposited on
various tissues and organs by internal and external irradiation.
The unit of measurement for effective dose is the Sievert (Sv).
(d) Lethal dose: fatal dose of nuclear or chemical origin.
(e) Maximum permissible dose: dose that must not be exceeded for
a given period of time.
Dose Limitation The process of limiting radiation doses to individuals. Also known as the
third radiation protection principle.
Dose rate The dose rate is the quotient of dose and time. For example, rem or
Sieverts per hour.
Dosimeter Instrument for measuring absorbed dose.
Dosimetry The theory and application of the principles and techniques involved in
the measurement and recording of ionising radiation doses. What is
calculated is the absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the
exposure to ionising radiation.
DPA The Data Protection Act 1998
DRAGON Name of one of the reactors at Winfrith.
Drigg Site of the Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria.
DRS Direct Rail Services Limited: A wholly-owned subsidiary of the NDA,
which provides rail transport services for nuclear materials (and other
commercial rail freight operations) in the UK. DRS is the only remaining
publicly owned rail freight company in the United Kingdom.
Dry Fuel Store A building specifically designed for the storage in dry conditions of used
nuclear fuel from the operation of a NPP.
Dry Storage Storage of spent fuel in air or an inert gas rather than water.
DSJ Design Safety Justification
DSL District Survey Laboratory
DSNR Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator
DSR Design Safety Report
DSRL Dounreay Site Restoration Limited: The site licence company
responsible for the demolition and clean-up of the Dounreay site in the
far north of Scotland, the former centre of fast reactor research and
development.
DSRL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cavendish Dounreay
Partnership Ltd, a consortium of Cavendish Nuclear, CH2MHILL and
URS. It is funded by the NDA to deliver the site closure programme
agreed with the Cavendish Dounreay Partnership.
DSU Distress Signal Warning Unit
DTI Department of Trade & Industry: A predecessor to BIS and DECC.
Business, trade and energy matters all came under the remit of DTI.
Dual Use Civil nuclear related goods, information, software and technology that
could be used for developing a nuclear weapon.
DWMP Decommissioning Waste Management Plan: The part of the FDP that
sets out the steps and costs involved in decommissioning a nuclear
power station and disposing of the waste.
EA Environment Agency: The EA’s role is the enforcement of specified laws
and regulations aimed at protecting the environment, in the context of
sustainable development predominantly by authorising and controlling
radioactive discharges and waste disposals to air, water (surface water,
ground water) and land.
The principal way in which the EA regulates the environmental impacts
of nuclear sites is under the Environmental Permitting (England and
Wales) Regulations 2010. The equivalent body in Scotland is the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) which regulates under
the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.
EAEC The European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom): An
international organisation which is legally distinct from the European
Union (EU), but has the same membership, and is governed by the EU's
institutions. It was established on 25 March 1957 (alongside the
European Economic Community/EEC) by the Euratom Treaty, being
taken over by the executive institutions of the EEC in 1967.
See also Euratom.
EAJWG The Emergency Arrangements Joint Working Group is an internal
working group formed by a nuclear operator to ensure good
coordination between those organisations directly involved in its nuclear
emergency arrangements.
EAL Evaluation Assurance Level: A security classification for systems.
EARWG Environment Agencies Requirements Working Group.
The purpose of the EARWG is to identify and share good practice in
the:
(a) minimisation, re-use and recycling of solid radioactive waste
(Low Level Waste and Very Low Level Waste) across the
industry and in this respect support the UK Nuclear Industry
National Low Level Waste Management Plan Re-use and
Recycling (RR1) Initiative; and
(b) monitoring/ assay of radioactive wastes (solid, liquid and
gaseous).
In doing so, EARWG will facilitate transparency of the information used
by sites to meet the Additional Information and Improvement
Requirements (AIIRs) specified in Environmental Permits/
Authorisations issued by the Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to nuclear Operators by sharing
information regarding waste minimisation and assay techniques, which
in turn will help to reduce costs to sites.
More can be found at [Link]
EC 1 Emergency Controller
2 European Commission
EC-6 (Enhanced The EC6 is a 700 MWe class heavy-water moderated and heavy-water
Candu) cooled pressure tube reactor. Heavy water is a natural form of water
used as a moderator to slow down the fission chain reaction neutrons in
the reactor. It is one of the most efficient moderators and enables the
CANDU design to use natural uranium as fuel, which is unique to
CANDU reactors.
One of the unique features of this reactor design is its ability to use
alternative fuels such as recovered uranium (RU) from the reprocessing
of used light water reactor fuel, low-enriched uranium (LEU) and
plutonium (Pu) mixed oxide, thorium and actinides, in addition to the
conventional natural uranium.
ECC Engineering Command Centre: Project management organisation
implemented to improve interfacing between design, engineering, and
contracting companies.
ECCS Emergency Core Cooling System: Comprises a series of systems that
are designed to safely shut down a nuclear reactor during accident
conditions. Under normal conditions, heat is removed from a nuclear
reactor by condensing steam after it passes through the turbine. In a
boiling water reactor, condensed steam (water) is fed back into the
reactor. In a pressurised water reactor, it is fed back through the heat.
ECITB The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board: A national
training organisation for the engineering construction industry which
provides information on careers, qualifications and training in
engineering construction.
ECO Export Control Organisation: Part of BIS. The ECO is responsible for
legislating, assessing and issuing export, trade transhipment and trade
control licences for specific categories of 'controlled' goods. This
encompasses a wide range of items including so-called dual-use goods,
torture goods, radioactive sources, as well as military items.
EDF Electricité de France: EDF has 58 reactors on 19 sites in France. The
first reactors, built between 1958 and 1966, featured GCR (Graphite-
Moderated Gas-Cooled Reactor) technology and are now being
decommissioned. EDF is also now the owner of EDF Energy Nuclear
Generation Limited (formally British Energy) and its fleet of AGR and
one ‘PWR’ reactors in the UK.
EDF, through its subsidiary NNB GenCo, is currently committed to a
programme of nuclear power generating new build in the UK subject to
the Final Investment Decision (FID). It has stated that Hinkley Point C in
Somerset will be the first proposed development for a new nuclear
power station, followed by Sizewell C in Suffolk.
EDF NG EDF Energy (Nuclear Generation) Limited (formerly British Energy
Generation Limited) is the EDF Energy Group Company that owns and
operates the eight operational nuclear power stations in the UK.
EDRMS Electronic Document Record Management System: More commonly
referred to as EDMS (Electronic Document Management System).
EDT Engineering Development Trust
EES Engineering Education Scheme
EESW Engineering Education Scheme Wales
Effective dose The quantity obtained by multiplying the equivalent dose to various
tissues and organs by a weighting factor appropriate to each and
summing the products. Unit Sievert, symbol Sv. Frequently abbreviated
to dose.
EHS&Q Environment, Health, Safety & Quality
EHSS&Q Environment, Health, Safety, Security & Quality
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment: The formal assessment process of
identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the environmental
consequences (together consisting of the environmental, social and
economic aspects, both positive and negative) of a project in relation to
planning permissions, consents, licences and other statutory approvals
as required by the EIA Directive prior to the decision to move forward
with the proposed action.
The aim of EIA is to protect the environment by ensuring that a decision
maker, when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project
which is likely to have significant effects on the environment, does so in
the full knowledge of the likely significant effects and takes this into
account in the decision making process.
EIA Directive European Council Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended) on the
assessment of the effects of certain private and public projects on the
environment.
EIA Regulations The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)
Regulations 2009 as amended by the Infrastructure Planning
(Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
and the Consequential Amendments Regulations 2012 came into force
1 October 2009 and set out the procedures which must be followed so
that the consideration of applications for Nationally Significant
Infrastructure Projects fully reflect the requirements of the EIA Directive.
EIB European Investment Bank
EIB / EIF Energy Island Board/ Energy Island Forum: The local promotional
groups driving economic benefit from energy investment in North Wales
and the Isle of Anglesey.
EIC Emergency Indication Centre
EIF See EIB/EIF.
EIP The Anglesey Energy Island™ Programme: A collective effort between
stakeholders within the public and private sector working in partnership
to put Anglesey at the forefront of low carbon energy production and
servicing, research and development, bringing with it potentially huge
economic rewards to Anglesey and the wider North Wales economy.
EIR The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3391)
Electron A very small negatively charged particle which orbits the nucleus of an
atom, and can also exist in a free state for short periods of time.
Element A substance with atoms all of the same atomic number.
Emergency Plan A plan outlining an Operator’s emergency response in the event of a
radiological emergency.
Emergency The state of being prepared for a radiological emergency so as to
Preparedness minimise Nuclear Damage.
ERL Emergency Reference Level: One of a dual set of doses likely to be
averted by the introduction of countermeasures to protect the public
from ionising radiation after a nuclear or other serious accident.
EMITS Examination, Maintenance, Inspection and Test Schedule: Focused on
effectively maintaining and demonstrating the effective maintenance of
safety critical plant and systems that underpin the nuclear safety case. It
is a key part of the nuclear safety case and nuclear site compliance
arrangement - to demonstrate that any safety systems on which the
nuclear safety case is predicated will operate as expected / required in
the event that they are needed.
EMR Electricity Market Reform: The programme of reform to the wholesale
electricity market initiated by the White Paper Planning our electric
future: a White Paper for secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity
published in July 2011. The EMR proposals have altered during the
process of consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny, but the four key
proposals are:
(a) the introduction of Contracts for Difference (CfD) Feed-in Tarrifs
to replace premium Feed-in Tarrifs for medium to large-scale
renewable energy generating stations, including nuclear, under
which a generator will enter a long-term contract based on a
pre-determined "strike price" and will receive variable payments
to ensure it receives the agreed tariff;
(b) a Capacity Market through which the total amount of back-up
capacity needed to ensure security of supply will be bought
through a central competitive auction conducted by the National
System Operator a number of years in advance;
(c) an Emissions Performance Standard to apply to all new fossil
fuel power stations over 50MW which will place a limit on the
amount of CO2 emitted to a maximum of 450gCO2/kWh; and
(d) a Carbon Price Floor (introduced through provisions in the
Finance Act 2011) to raise the price of carbon from 2013 at
around £15.70/t CO2 following a straight line to £30/t CO2 in
2020.
Encapsulation The encasement of radioactive waste (usually LLW and ILW) by an
encapsulant such as concrete.
End State The state and condition to which the site of a designated nuclear power
station or facility must be restored in order for the NDA to have fully
satisfied its decommissioning responsibilities under the Energy Act
2004. An End State is defined for each of the NDA’s individual nuclear
sites and is set out in the NDA’s Strategy, a document which is
consulted upon and agreed with the local community and key
stakeholders.
When the End State has been realised, the NDA may make an
application to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
seeking the modification or revocation (as appropriate) of the relevant
site Designating Direction.
ENEC Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation: Established to evaluate and
implement nuclear power within the UAE and offer joint-venture
arrangements to foreign investors for the construction and operation of
future nuclear power plants.
Energy Act 2004 The NDA came into existence in July 2004 when the Energy Act
received Royal Assent. The Act was introduced to give the NDA its legal
status and the power to fulfil its responsibilities.
Energy Act 2008 Legislation containing provisions relating to the management and
disposal of waste produced at nuclear installations, as well as the
finances associated with the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Energy Act 2013 Put in place Electricity Market Reform (EMR) measures to attract the
investment necessary to replace current generating capacity. Includes
provisions for:
(a) Contracts for Difference (CFD): Long term contracts to provide
stable and predictable incentives for companies to invest in low-
carbon generation;
(b) Capacity Market: To ensure the security of electricity supply
including provisions to allow Electricity Demand Reduction to be
delivered.
(c) Emissions Performance Standard (EPS): To limit carbon
dioxide emissions from new fossil fuel power stations.
The Act also includes provisions on decarbonisation to enable the
Secretary of State to set a 2030 decarbonisation target range for the
electricity sector in secondary legislation. A decision to exercise this
power will be taken when the Committee for Climate Change has
provided advice on the level of the 5th Carbon Budget in 2016.
The Act also placed the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on a
statutory footing as the body to regulate the safety and security of
nuclear stations and set out its purposes and functions.
Engie French utility company which holds a stake in the NuGen nuclear new
build project at Moorside in Cumbria (previously called GDF Suez).
Enriched Uranium Uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been
increased from the natural level of approximately 0.7% through the
process of isotope-separation.
Enrichment The process used to increase the abundance of fissile isotopes in an
element, such as naturally-occurring uranium.
ENSRA European Nuclear Regulator Association
ENSREG The European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group
Entomb This is a method of decommissioning whereby the radioactive material
is encased in a structurally long-lived material, such as concrete. The
entombment structure is appropriately maintained and continued
surveillance is carried out until the radioactivity decays to a level
permitting decommissioning and ultimate unrestricted release of the
property.
Environmental A permit issued by the Environment Agency to control the
Permit environmental impacts associated with, among other issues, discharges
and waste.
Environmental Permits were first introduced in 2007 and replaced the
previous consenting regimes of PPC permits and Waste Management
Licences.
In England and Wales, radioactive substances are covered by the
Environmental Permitting regime which replaced the previous
authorisation regime under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, radioactive substances are covered
by the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (and subordinate legislation).
EPC Contract Stands for "engineer, procure and construct" and is a term used both
domestically and internationally to describe a contract under which an
engineering contractor undertakes to:
(a) design process plant (e.g. a petrochemical plant) or power plant
(e.g. a turbine generator and ancillary plant, structures and
infrastructure) or works with a heavy engineering element,
usually to meet a specified level of performance;
(b) procure all components comprised in the design; and
(c) physically construct and test the plant.
The equivalent term used in relation to more standard construction (e.g.
housing, office blocks etc.) is ‘design-and-build’.
EPCC Emergency Planning Consultative Committee
EPCG Emergency Planning Consultative Group
EPD Electronic Personal Dosimeter
EPE Emergency Preparedness Engineer
EPG Emergency Planning Group
EPGMS (PGMS) Emergency Plume Gamma Monitoring System is a site boundary
system for monitoring any airbourne radioactivity released from a
nuclear site.
EPR Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor or European Pressurised Reactor: A
reactor designed by AREVA, the first of which is being constructed at
Olkiluoto in Finland. Others are being constructed at Flamanville in
France and Taishan in China. Two EPR reactors are planned to be built
at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. It is classified as a generation III+
reactor due to the level of safety obtained and the economic savings
that it achieves in relation to the earlier models.
Full details of the reactor and its design can be found at [Link]-
[Link].
ERL Emergency Reference Levels are the doses to an individual that could
be avoided if a particular countermeasure were deployed in the event of
an accident at a nuclear facility.
ERO Emergency Response Organisation
ESBWR Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor: The latest evolution of
General Electric’s Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) design, using passive
circulation for normal operations and simplified, passive safety systems.
The intention is that the design's simplicity improves the overall safety of
the plant, provides more location options, and yields improved
economics and operational flexibility. GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is the
owner of the ESBWR.
ESC Early Site Clearance: Modern PWRs (see below) incorporate a range of
design features which facilitate decommissioning, including the use of
shielding and barriers to minimise the radioactive activation or
contamination of equipment, the design of systems to minimise the
creation, transportation and deposition of radioactivity and the use of
materials which minimise the creation of radioactive activation products.
As a consequence there is less benefit from deferring decommissioning
to allow radioactivity levels to reduce over time. The EPR proposed at
HPC will apply ESC and decommissioning is expected to be completed
within 20 years.
Escorted Access Allowed access to certain areas of an accredited site, but must be
accompanied by an escort at all times.
ESFs Engineered Safety Features: Engineered Systems important to the
safety of the plant. These systems relate to shutting down the reactor,
provision of cooling, mitigating the effects of a loss of reactor coolant
accident (LOCA), or minimizing offsite release.
ESLO Emergency Services Liaison Officer
ESP Early Site Permit: Appears to be part of the US regulatory environment
leading to the grant of a full Site Licence.
Espoo The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a
Convention Transboundary Context done at Espoo in Finland on 25 February 1991.
The International Law behind the Transboundary EIA requirements in
the EIA Regs.
ESWS Essential Service Water System: The ESWS circulates the water that
cools the plant’s heat exchangers and other components before
dissipating the heat into the environment. Because this includes cooling
the systems that remove decay heat from both the primary system and
the spent fuel rod cooling ponds, the ESWS is a safety-critical system.
Since the water is frequently drawn from an adjacent river, the sea, or
other large body of water, the system can be fouled by seaweed, marine
organisms, oil pollution, ice and debris. In locations without a large body
of water in which to dissipate the heat, water is recirculated via a cooling
tower.
EU ETS EU Emissions Trading System: Formerly referred to as the EU
Emissions Trading Scheme, the EU ETS is one of the key policies
introduced by the European Union (EU) to help meet its greenhouse
gas emissions target of 8 percent below 1990 levels under the Kyoto
Protocol. It is a Europe-wide cap and trade scheme that started in 2005
and is the first of its kind. Each EU member state must develop a
National Allocation Plan approved by the European Commission which
sets an overall cap on the total emissions allowed from all the
installations covered by the System. This is then converted into
allowances (1 allowance equals 1 tonne of CO2) which are distributed
by EU member states to installations covered by the System. At the end
of each year, installations are required to surrender allowances to
account for their actual emissions. Installations can emit more than their
allocation by buying allowances from the market or can sell surplus
allowances to the market.
EU Procurement See Council Directives 89/665/EEC, 92/13/EEC, 92/50/EEC,
Rules 93/37/EEC, 93/36/EEC, 93/38/EEC, 98/4/EC, European Parliament and
Council Directives 97/52/EC, 98/4/EC, 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC and
any other EU measures adopted from time to time in relation to
procurement, together with the United Kingdom implementing measures
and all applicable EU Treaty principles.
EURATOM The European Atomic Energy Community was initially created in 1957
to coordinate the Member States’ research programmes for the peaceful
use of nuclear energy. The Euratom Treaty today helps to pool
knowledge, infrastructure, and funding of nuclear energy. It ensures the
security of atomic energy supply within the framework of a centralised
monitoring system.
EURATOM Treaty Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, 1957
European Sites A network of internationally important sites designated for their
ecological status, comprising Sites of Community Importance (SCI),
Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation
(SACs), candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) and
European Offshore Marine Sites (EOMS). For the purposes of this
glossary this term also includes Ramsar sites and potential SPAs.
Evaporators Components of the plant at Sellafield used to reduce the volume of the
highly active liquor through evaporation.
Event Tree The analysis of initiating events and their consequences. An event tree
starts with an initiating event and develops sequences, based on
whether a plant system succeeds or fails in performing its function, and
the response of related systems. An event tree provides a graphical and
probabilistic representation of the various possible sequences, and
hence can be used to determine the probability of negative outcomes
from a particular initiating event.
EWA Early Works Agreement
Export Control The system of controlling the transfer of any nuclear related material
including goods, information, software and technology from the UK to
another State.
Exposure Exposure of an organism to a source of radiation characterised by the
dose received.
(a) External exposure: exposure from a radiation source located
outside the organism.
(b) Internal exposure: exposure from a radiation source located
inside the organism.
Exposure A means by which radiation can reach humans.
Pathway
FA3 Shortening used for the French plant Flamanville 3. See Flamanville 3.
FAP Funding Arrangements Plan: The part of the FDP that sets out the
Operator’s arrangements to deliver sufficient funds to meet the
estimated cost of the plans set out in the DWMP.
Fast Breeder A reactor type which is driven by the use of fast neutrons and which
exploits the "plutonium economy" fuel cycle by utilising natural /
depleted uranium after an initial fuel charge of plutonium. The fast
neutrons (as opposed to the thermal neutrons used in conventional
238 239
PWR and BWR designs) react with the U to produce Pu.
Fast neutron A neutron which has not been slowed down (or "moderated") by a
moderator material – typically water or graphite. The slower neutrons
are referred to as thermal neutrons – meaning they have the sort of
energy associated with “normal” levels of heat.
Fault Tree The analysis of an event in a top-down manner. The event is analysed
by breaking it down at each successive stage to identify what equipment
and operator actions, if failed, would lead to the postulated outcome.
The fault tree starts with the top event, as defined within the event tree
analysis, and at each stage identifies combinations of precursor
event(s) using logical operators such as AND and OR.
FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office
FCP Forward Control Point
FDP Funded Decommissioning Programme: Any operator of a new nuclear
power station must have an FDP, approved by the Secretary of State, in
place before construction of a new nuclear power station begins
and must comply with this programme thereafter. This will include a
commitment to pay into a secure, bankruptcy-remote and independently
managed fund to cover all the costs of decommissioning, clean up and
disposing of the waste.
Obligations relating to FDPs are contained in the Energy Act 2008.
The Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board (NLFAB) is an
independent body established by the Secretary of State to provide
impartial scrutiny and advice on the suitability of a FDP submitted by a
nuclear operator.
FEED Front End Engineering Design: The process by which early design and
planning of a project is undertaken.
The outcomes of FEED will usually provide information for project
execution and will assist with gaining more certainty on price models
and commercial terms for the project.
Feed in Tariff (FIT) A means for Governments to set above-market rates for electricity
generated from renewable sources. By obliging electricity utility
companies to buy renewable electricity at a fixed price for a fixed
number of years, renewable installations become cost effective for the
installer. A feed in tariff is effectively a subsidy designed to increase the
exploitation of renewable energy sources, and to help governments to
meet their carbon reduction obligations.
Feedwater Water used to remove heat from a reactor and produce (“feed") steam
to drive the turbine generators.
Fellside Heat And This company produces electricity and steam through combined heat
Power Ltd and power and has a capacity of 170MW, of which 24-26MW goes to
the Sellafield site and the remaining 142-146MW goes to the National
Grid. The CHP is situated just outside the licensed site at Sellafield.
FID Final Investment Decision: In a nuclear context the term is used to refer
to the final decision of a company to invest or not invest in a particular
project.
Film badge This photographic film is a type of dosimeter used for the measurement
of ionising radiation exposure for personnel monitoring purposes. The
film badge may contain two or three films of differing sensitivities, and it
may also contain a filter that shields part of the film from certain types of
radiation.
FIM Force Incident Manager
Fissile material Any material fissionable by thermal (slow) neutrons. The three primary
fissile materials are uranium-233, uranium-235, and plutonium-239.
Although this term has sometimes been used as a synonym for
fissionable material, it has now acquired this more restrictive meaning.
Fission Fission creates the release of energy where heavy element atoms are
split up into smaller atoms, producing free neutrons and large amounts
of energy. The energy is derived from small changes in mass that is
2
converted to energy (Einstein, E = mc ).
Fission products The smaller atoms produced when a large atom undergoes fission,
often extremely radioactive.
Flamanville 3 EDF/ AREVA EPR new build project underway in France.
Flask (nuclear – A shipping container or cask that is used to transport active nuclear
transport) materials between nuclear sites within the UK.
Flux This term is applied to the amount of particles or energy that crosses a
unit area per unit time. The unit of flux is the number of particles or
energy, per square centimetre per second.
FoI / FoIA Freedom of Information Act 2000: An Act which came into force on 1
January 2005 and gives people the right to request information held by
or on behalf of public bodies.
FORATOM The Trade Organisation for the Nuclear Industry in Europe.
FP Fission Product
Friends of the See NGO.
Earth
FSA Food Standards Agency
Fuel assembly Structured collection of fuel rods or elements, the unit of fuel in a
reactor.
Fuel cladding Material used to construct reactor components and designed to
maintain a separation between their contents and the coolant. An
example is the cladding of a fuel pin that separates the fuel pellets from
the coolant. Zirconium and zirconium alloys (Zircaloy) are common
cladding materials.
Fuel cycle The sequence of steps involved in supplying, using, and disposing of
the fuel used in nuclear reactors. The fuel cycle is “closed” if it includes
the reprocessing of spent fuel and recycling of fissile materials resulting
from reprocessing. The term “open” or “once-through” cycle means that
the fuel is disposed of in a permanent storage site after use in the
reactor.
Fuel Element Material made up of mainly metal components removed from the casing
Debris of fuel elements after use.
Fuel reprocessing The method of processing reactor fuel in order to separate the reusable
fissionable material from waste material.
Fuel rod A long, cylindrical rod, often 12 to 14 feet in length, made up of fuel
[Assembly] pellets containing enriched uranium in cladding. Fuel rods are bundled
into fuel assemblies.
Fuel Route Term used to refer to the set of processes and areas that fuel passes
through to be brought onto a nuclear licensed site, prepared prior to
use, used for fission, stored on site, undergo its initial on-site treatment
and then be removed from site (as spent fuel) for onward processing.
Fukushima The second most serious civil nuclear accident (after the Chernobyl
incident incident) which occurred as a result of the Great East Japan earthquake
and resulting tsunami in March 2011. Severe earthquake damage and
flooding resulted in equipment failure, core damage from overheating
(meltdown) and subsequent releases of radioactive material into the
surrounding environment.
Fusion Thermonuclear fusion: A process in which two or more light nuclei are
formed into a heavier nucleus and energy is released.
F4E / Fusion for The European Union’s Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development
Energy of Fusion Energy. The organisation was created under the Euratom
Treaty by a decision of the Council of the European Union. F4E, which
is located in Barcelona, Spain, is responsible for: providing Europe's
contribution to ITER, supporting fusion research and development and
contributing towards the construction of demonstration fusion reactors.
Gamma radiation Very high-energy electro-magnetic rays produced during radioactive
decay. These are similar to visible light and X-rays but significantly
more energetic than the latter.
Gas-cooled Broad/generic expression describing a nuclear reactor where gas is
reactor used as the coolant.
Gd Gadolinium. A fission product of uranium-235.
GDA Generic Design Assessment: The joint assessment by the Health and
Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to ensure that any new
nuclear power stations built in the UK meet the highest standards of
safety, security, environmental protection and waste management.
GDF Geological Disposal Facility: A long term nuclear waste management
option involving the disposal of waste in an engineered underground
facility, where the geology provides a barrier against the escape of
radioactivity and where the depth protects the waste from disturbances
rising at the surface. Depth in this context can refer to both horizontal as
well as vertical depth, for example if the disposal facility is built into the
side of a mountain.
GDF (Suez) See Engie.
Geiger Counter A detection instrument used to detect particles of ionising radiation -
alpha particles, beta particles or gamma radiation. Named after Hans
Geiger (1882-1945).
Generation I The earliest commercial nuclear power stations designs, including
Magnox in the UK.
Generation II The set of designs which makes up the bulk of today's nuclear power
stations, including PWRs, BWRs, CANDU, VVER and AGR.
Generation III Reactor designs available for construction today, making more use of
passive safety features and including AP1000, EPR, Advanced CANDU,
ABWR and ESBWR.
Generation III+ Generation III+ designs offer significant improvements in safety and
economics over Generation III advanced reactor designs certified by the
NRC in the 1990s. The ACR-1000 and EPR designs are considered to
be Generation III+ designs.
Generation IV Generation IV reactors are a set of theoretical nuclear reactor designs
that are currently being researched. An international task force known
as the Generation IV International Forum is currently developing six
such designs which are expected to be ready for deployment between
2020–2030.
GIS Geographic[al] Information System: Captures, stores, analyses,
manages, and presents data that are linked to location.
GPS Government Procurement Service: An executive agency of the Cabinet
Office with the objective of delivering savings in government and public
sector spending through centralised procurement. Used by DECC and
by the NDA for the procurement of services for certain projects.
Grant-in-aid Money received from the Government to fund the NDA’s remit.
Graphite A form of carbon used in nuclear fission reactors to slow down
(moderate) neutrons. It is generally constructed in the form of blocks or
sleeves.
Gray Gray (Gy) is a unit of measurement for the absorbed dose. The
absorbed dose was formerly measured in rads and 1 gray = 100 rads.
See Absorbed Dose.
When it comes into contact with matter, ionising radiation collides with
the atoms comprising it. During these interactions, it releases a part or
all of its energy. The absorbed dose (expressed in Gray) is defined by
the ratio of this released energy over the mass of the matter. A Gray
corresponds to one Joule of energy released in one kilogram of matter.
Green Energy Generators of electricity from renewable sources may be entitled to
Certificate claim three types of Green Energy Certificate. The three types of
certificate are: Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs), Levy
Exemption Certificates (LECs) and Renewable Energy Guarantees of
Origin (REGO).
Greenpeace See NGO.
GSC Government Security Classification policy introduced on 2nd April 2014
replacing the previous Government Protective Marking Scheme
(GPMS). It describes how HM Government classifies information
assets to ensure they are appropriately protected. It applies to all
information that Government collects, stores, processes, generates or
shares to deliver services and conduct business. This includes the
critical national infrastructure and in particular the civil nuclear and
defence sectors. The system also applies to private sector bodies which
provide services to the public sector.
GTA Government Technical Advisor
GTRP Global Threat Reduction Programme
Guidance for Site NDA guidance, ‘Authority’s Guidance for Site Stakeholder Groups', Ref
Stakeholder LAR3.0, 27 March 2009.
Groups
GW Gigawatt, being one billion Watts.
GWh Gigawatt hours, being one billion watt-hours.
Habitats Directive The European Directive (92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural
Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna.
HAL / Highly Intermediary stage in the vitrification process at Sellafield. Strict limits
Active Liquor are imposed on the amounts of HAL which can be stored. HAL consists
of components of spent fuel other than uranium (i.e. radioactive by-
products) dissolved in concentrated Nitric Acid after separation by the
PUREX process.
HALEF Highly Active Liquid Effluent Facility: The HALEF is made of seismically
qualified reinforced concrete and comprises a series of storage tanks
used to store radioactive waste arising from nuclear processing
operations.
Half life The time that it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive element to
decay.
Harbour An Order issued under the Harbours Act 1964 allowing a company to
Empowerment establish its own Harbour.
Order
HAZOP Hazard and Operability study: Used as the best way to determine what
types of hazards can arise from intended design conditions.
Health Impact An assessment usually carried out in advance of a particular project or
Assessment (HIA) course of action being approved, which seeks to analyse the likely
impact on human health. The HIA should be used as a tool by decision-
makers to determine alternatives which would have lesser impacts on
health.
Health Physics A field of science concerned with radiation physics and radiation biology
with the goal of informing the safe use of ionising radiation. Health
physicists principally work at facilities where radionuclides or ionising
radiation are used or produced.
Heat Exchanger Any device that transfers heat from one system to another without
physical transfer of any matter. In a nuclear reactor, the heat exchanger
transfers heat from the reactor cooling system to water that passes
through the turbo generators to produce electricity.
Heavy water Water enriched to contain significantly more than the natural proportions
(one in 6,500) of heavy hydrogen (deuterium, D) atoms to ordinary
hydrogen atoms. Heavy water, effective in slowing neutrons down and
has a low probability of absorbing neutrons, is used as a moderator in
some reactor designs e.g. CANDU.
HEP Human Error Probability: Term used in safety engineering. Probability
assigned to represent the likelihood that a human, usually the operator,
fails to complete a particular action correctly.
HEU Highly Enriched Uranium: Uranium that has been modified by increasing
the concentration of the fissionable isotope U-235, containing 20% or
more of the isotope uranium-235. A quantity of HEU can be described in
terms of either the total mass of all the uranium isotopes, kg U, or as the
mass of the fissile isotope uranium-235, kg U 235. For example, 100kg
U of 70% enriched HEU could also be described as 70kg U 235.
HEX tails Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride, a byproduct of the uranium enrichment
process (part of the nuclear fuel cycle).
Hitachi Hitachi Ltd is a Japanese multinational engineering and electronics
conglomerate company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
Hitachi completed acquisition of Horizon Nuclear Power on 26
November 2012.
Hitachi GE Established in 2007 Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy is a global alliance
Nuclear Energy between Japan's Hitachi and the United States' General Electric Co with
the purpose of providing services under synergetic cooperation for the
whole nuclear power business: from research and development, design,
manufacturing, construction, test runs, operation and system
maintenance. In the UK, Hitachi GE will form a delivery team to provide
an EPC scope of work for Horizon Nuclear Power.
HLW High-Level Waste: Radioactive wastes that are highly radioactive
materials, usually produced as a by-product of reactions which occur
inside nuclear reactors.
HLW takes one of two forms:
(a) spent (used) reactor fuel when it is accepted for disposal; or
(b) waste materials remaining after spent fuel has been
reprocessed.
HLW is heat-generating and, as a result, the temperature of HLW can
rise significantly over time. This has to be taken into account when
designing storage or disposal facilities, for example those at Sellafield
and Dounreay.
HMG Her Majesty's Government, the Government of the United Kingdom.
HNB Hunterston B (Power Station)
Horizon Nuclear Horizon Nuclear Power is a UK energy company developing a new
Power generation of Nuclear power stations. A wholly owned subsidiary of
Hitachi, Ltd. planning to provide at least 5,400MW of new power
capacity across its two sites, Wylfa Newydd on the Isle of Anglesey and
Oldbury in South Gloucestershire.
[Link]
HP Health Physics / Health Physicist
HPA 1 Health Protection Agency: An NDPB with a role to provide an
integrated approach to protecting the UK public from threats to
their health from infectious diseases, environmental hazards
and radiation.
2 Hinkley Point A (power station under decommissioning) which is
part of the NDA portfolio.
HPB Hinkley Point B (Power Station): AGR power station operated by EDF
Energy.
HPC Hinkley Point C: A proposed development by NNB GenCo (a subsidiary
created by EDF Energy) for a new nuclear power station near
Bridgewater, Somerset, England.
The proposal is to develop two nuclear reactors capable of generating a
total of up to 3,260MW of electricity based on AREVA's EPR design.
HPC High Performance Computing
HRA 1 Habitats Regulation Assessment
2 Hartlepool (Power Station): AGR power station operated by
EDF Energy.
HSE Health and Safety Executive: A statutory body whose role is the
enforcement of work-related health and safety law under the general
direction of the Health and Safety Commission established by the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The ONR is no longer an agency of the HSE but is now a completely
independent public corporation. HSE will remain as the health and
safety enforcement authority for the Associated Development sites
under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the HSE has the right to
nominate one non-executive director to the board of the ONR.
HSWA Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
HVLA High Volume Low Activity (waste): A subset of LLW arising from
decommissioning activities. Chemical properties of HVLA are such that
it can potentially be disposed of to a lower level of containment than
LLW.
HYA Heysham A (Power Station): AGR power station operated by EDF
Energy.
HYB Heysham B (Power Station): AGR power station operated by EDF
Energy.
I Iodine. A fission product of uranium-235.

IACC Isle of Anglesey County Council: In March 2006, IACC voted to support
the construction of Wylfa Newydd, a new build nuclear plant to replace
the existing Wylfa A plant owned by the NDA and operated by Magnox.
IACC also supports the development of EIP.

IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency: The Vienna-based IAEA (part of

the United Nations) is the global focal point for nuclear co-operation and
promotes the peaceful use of atomic energy. It gives guidance on
nuclear safety and verifies that members comply with their safeguard
obligations and use nuclear material only for peaceful purposes.
ICO Intelligent Customer Organisation: Linked to license conditions, all
nuclear operators must retain Controlling Mind regardless of what
operations are outsourced. The suitably qualified and experienced
personnel required to fulfil this need constitute the Intelligent Customer
Organisation.
ICRP International Commission on Radiological Protection: An independent
registered charity established to advance for the public benefit the
science of radiological protection, in particular by providing
recommendations and guidance on all aspects of protection against
ionising radiation.
IDAC Interim Design Acceptance Confirmation (see DAC)
ILW Intermediate Level Waste: Waste with radioactivity levels exceeding the
upper boundaries for Low Level Waste (LLW), but which do not require
temperature to be taken into account in the design of storage or
disposal facilities.
ILW arises mainly from the reprocessing of spent fuel, and from general
operations and maintenance of radioactive plant. The major
components of ILW are metals, sludges and organic materials, with
smaller quantities of cement, graphite, glass and ceramics.
INES International Nuclear Event Scale: A scale from 1 to 7 introduced by the
IAEA in 1990 to assess and classify the impact(s) of nuclear accidents,
where 1 is an anomaly and 7 is a major accident.
Initiating event Term used in safety engineering to refer to an initiating cause, when
assessing consequences and outcomes. An initiating event can be
defined as a challenge to plant operation. Event Tree Analysis involves
the analysis of initiating events and their consequences.
INPO Institute of Nuclear Power Operations: A US based organisation
promoting excellence in the operation of commercial nuclear power
plants.
INS International Nuclear Services Limited: A wholly-owned subsidiary of the
NDA. INS was formerly known as Spent Fuel Services, an operating
unit within British Nuclear Group. Its main focus continues to be the
customer interface to over 20 utility customers for reprocessing and
MOX fuel supply contracts and the associated transportation of these
products.
INSAG International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group

Intelligent Part of an organisation’s overall attributes which enables it to minimise

Customer any risks to nuclear safety in all aspects of its undertaking.
Interim Spent Fuel A store where spent fuel cools until it is suitable for disposal or where
Store such fuel is stored pending disposal.
Ion An ion can be described as an atom that has too many or too few
electrons, causing it to have an electrical charge and, therefore, be
electrochemically active.
Ionisation The process of adding or removing one or more electrons from atoms or
molecules, thereby creating ions. Ionisation can occur because of high
temperatures, electrical discharges, or nuclear radiations.
Ionising radiation Any radiation capable of displacing electrons from atoms or molecules,
thereby producing ions. High doses of ionising radiation may produce
severe skin or tissue damage. Some examples are alpha, beta, gamma,
x-rays, neutrons, and ultraviolet light.
IOSH Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
IPC The Infrastructure Planning Commission, which is now abolished. The
IPC was set up under the Planning Act 2008 to determine applications
for DCOs for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. It was
abolished under the Localism Act 2011 and the powers to determine
DCOs returned to the relevant Minister i.e. DECC in the case of nuclear
power stations and major overhead grid connections.
IPPAS International Physical Protection Advisory Service
IRR99 Ionising Radiations 1999
Irradiation This is the process by which an item is exposed to radiation.
IRT Incident Response Team
ISoDA Interim Statement of Design Acceptability (see SoDA)
Isotope Atoms of the same element which have the same number of protons but
different numbers of neutrons. Hydrogen has three isotopes – all with
one proton but with zero (normal hydrogen), one (deuterium) or two
(tritium) neutrons in the nucleus. Similarly the two common isotopes of
235 238
uranium, U and U both have 92 protons in their nuclei but (235-
92)=143 or (238-92)=146 neutrons respectively.
ITER Originally the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, this is
an international tokamak research/engineering project that could help to
make the transition from today’s studies of plasma physics to future
electricity-producing fusion power plants.
ITER is based on the ‘tokamak’ concept of magnetic confinement, in
which the plasma is contained in a doughnut-shaped vacuum vessel.
The fuel (a mixture of Deuterium and Tritium, two isotopes of Hydrogen)
is heated to temperatures in excess of 150 million°C, forming hot
plasma.
Strong magnetic fields are used to keep the plasma away from the
walls. These are produced by superconducting coils surrounding the
vessel, and by an electrical current driven through the plasma. The
project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to produce commercial
energy from fusion.
IUK The Infrastructure UK Unit within HM Treasury which administers IUK
Guarantees.
IUK Guarantee A guarantee issued by HM Treasury of the principal debt and interest of
a developer of certain significant UK infrastructure projects.
IWS Integrated Waste Strategy: Describes how a site optimises its approach
to waste management. It includes the waste streams and discharges
expected from current and future operations at the site, and the actions
required to improve the site’s approach to waste management.
JAERI Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
JET The Joint European Torus fusion research project based at Culham and
operated by United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority on behalf of
Euratom.
Joint Protocol The Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention
and the Paris Convention 1992 which provides a link between the
Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention.
Judicial Review The process by which decisions of public bodies including Regulators
can be challenged in Court.
Justification The process by which a Regulator confirms that a new practice
involving potential radiation exposure is justified in relation to any health
detriment caused. Also known as the first radiation protection principle.
KA-CARE King Abdullah City for Renewable and Atomic Energy: The lead
institution in the nuclear programme for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
KEPCO Korea Electric Power Corporation
KI Potassium Iodide: Can be administered in tablet form to prevent
accumulation of radioactive iodine (I-131) in the thyroid gland in the
event of a nuclear emergency.
KI03 Potassium Iodate: Like KI, can also be administered in tablet form to
prevent accumulation of radioactive iodine.
Kinetic energy The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it possesses because of its
motion. It is calculated by virtue of its mass and velocity and is equal to
half its mass times its velocity squared. Kinetic energy of atoms or
molecules increases with temperature as the heat (energy) transferred
into the substance is converted into kinetic energy with resulting
increase in the velocities of the particles.
KM Knowledge Management: The IAEA defines KM as: “An integrated,
systematic approach to identifying, acquiring, transforming, developing,
disseminating, using, and preserving knowledge, relevant to achieving
specified objectives.”
KNOO Keeping the Nuclear Option Open: A programme of work involving
industry, academia and Government, with Research Council funding,
carried out during the period 2005 - 2010.
Kr Krypton. A fission product of uranium-235.
KW Kilowatt, being one thousand Watts.
LC Licence Condition, see Site Licence
Legacy The nuclear legacy is represented by:
(a) the nuclear sites and facilities operated by UKAEA and BNFL
which were developed between the 1940s and the 1960s,
including the wastes, materials and spent fuels they produced;
and
(b) the Magnox fleet of nuclear power stations designed and built in
the 1960s and 1970s and operated on the Government’s behalf
by BNFL, and the plant and facilities at Sellafield used for the
reprocessing of Magnox fuel as well as all associated wastes
and materials.
Lethal dose (LD) A lethal dose of radiation is the dose required to cause death to 50
percent of an exposed population within 30 days (LD 50/30). Typically,
the LD 50/30 is in the range from 400 to 450 rem (4 to 5 Sieverts)
received over a very short period. Duration of the exposure is important
here as the dose received by patients in radiotherapy treatments can
reach 20 Sv over time.
Levy Exemption One of the three types of Green Energy Certificate that generators of
Certificates electricity from renewable sources may be entitled to claim. LECs can
(LECs) be sold to suppliers who use them to prove that they have supplied non-
domestic customers with renewable energy.
Liabilities The costs involved in decommissioning, the processing, long term
management, storage and final disposal of waste materials and spent
fuel, and the environmental remediation of nuclear sites.
Licensed Site A site in respect of which a Nuclear Site Licence has been granted.
Licensee An organisation to which a Nuclear Site Licence has been granted.
Lifetime The time period during which a nuclear power station is licensed to
operate.
Lifetime Dose Total radiation exposure of an individual over his or her lifetime.
Lifetime Agreement by the Regulator for a nuclear power station to extend its
Extension Lifetime.
Light water Naturally occurring water (which is predominantly protium isotope) as
distinguished from heavy water (i.e. enriched in deuterium isotope) or
tritiated water (enriched in tritium isotope).
Light water Light water reactors use ordinary water as both a moderating material
reactor and a reactor coolant. It includes boiling water reactors (BWRs) and
pressurised water reactors (PWRs), the most common types used
throughout the world.
Limits of Relating to a DCO and the Order plans, the works plans include the
Deviation (LoD) limits within which the development and works may be carried out and
any limits of deviation provided for in the Order. A promoter has to
explain how these limits of deviation have been derived.
LLW Low-Level Waste: Waste which includes metals, soil, building rubble
and organic materials, arising principally as lightly contaminated
miscellaneous scrap. Wastes other than those suitable for disposal to
landfill, but generally not exceeding 4 GBq/te (gigabecquerels/tonne) of
alpha or 12 GBq/te of beta/gamma activity.
Metals are mostly in the form of redundant equipment or from
decommissioning of radioactive/nuclear facilities.
Organic materials are mainly in the form of paper towels, clothing and
laboratory equipment that have been used in areas where radioactive
materials are used – such as hospitals, research establishments and
general industry as well as the nuclear industry. The National
Repository for LLW is near Drigg, Cumbria.
LLWR Site of the Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria, near Drigg.
LMU Liabilities Management Unit: A unit set up within the DTI (Department of
Trade and Industry, now BIS) to strengthen its ability to drive forward
work on the nuclear legacy and help to prepare the ground for the NDA.
(For more information see the White Paper – Managing the Nuclear
Legacy.)
LNT Linear Non-Threshold: The hypothetical connection between radiation
dose and health effects. The assumption is based on early work on
Drosophila and the 1956 Biological Effects of Radiation/Genetics panel.
The data was collected at higher doses and the effects extrapolated to
low dosage levels with the assumption that there is a straight line
connection between the two and the line should cross at zero harm
occurring at zero dose. It also assumes that the risk per dose is
constant and independent of dose-rate. See Brenner et al PNAS
November 25, 2003 vol. 100 no. 24 13761–13766. This hypothesis is
the international basis of radiological safety but is now being re-
examined by a number of medical academics including Professor
Pamela Sykes at Flinders University in Australia and others including a
number of research projects funded by the Low Dose Radiation
Research Program of the U.S. Department of Energy. LNT is
increasingly controversial.
LoC Letter of Compliance: Written advice issued by Radioactive Waste
Management Limited (RWM) following a Disposability Assessment
which confirms that RWM considers that a proposed waste package
would be suitable for geological disposal.
LOCA Loss-of-Coolant Accident: A mode of failure for a nuclear reactor. If not
managed effectively, the results of a LOCA could result in reactor core
damage. Each nuclear plant's emergency core cooling system (ECCS)
exists specifically to deal with a LOCA.
LOD Load of Documents. Contractual document review mechanism whereby
documents and records pertaining to a specific contract are submitted
together as a LOD.
LOHA Location Occupational Health Advisor
LOI Letter of Intent
London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of
Convention 1972 Wastes and Other Matter, 1972.
Low Enriched Enriched Uranium that contains less than 20% of uranium-235.
Uranium (LEU)
LR Learning Report
LRF Local Resilience Forum
LTP Lifetime Plan: A document describing the totality of the activities in
terms of scope, schedule and cost to be undertaken at each site to
transition from the current state to the proposed End State. Submitted
annually from the sites to the NDA.
M&O (Contract) Management and Operation (Contract): The contract in place between
an SLC and the NDA regarding all aspects of the day to day
management and operation of the NDA sites.
Magnox First generation UK reactor, so called because of the non-oxidising
magnesium alloy cladding used to contain uranium fuel rods. Not to be
confused with Magnox Limited – the SLC carrying out operations on
behalf of the NDA at various nuclear sites.
Magnox Ltd SLC for 12 sites (now including Harwell and Winfrith, 2 ex RSRL sites).
Maintenance Identifies the requirements and periodicities for regular and systematic
Schedule examination, inspection, maintenance and testing of all plant performing
a safety function. Refer to “Site Licence Conditions”, LC28.
Mass number The number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. Symbol
A.
Masterplan A masterplan deals with change in a defined physical area for a defined
time period. It sets out proposals for buildings, spaces, movement and
land use and matches these aspirations with an implementation
strategy. Masterplans can be prepared for any stage of a project’s life.
MBC Media Briefing Centre
MBUNS Manual Backup Notification System
MDC Medical Decontamination Centre
MEBs Multi Element Bottles: Used to store light water reactor spent fuel
assemblies in THORP Storage Ponds.
MECC Mobile Emergency Control Centre
Megawatt Equal to one million watts, the productive capacity of electrical
generators operated by a utility company is often measured in
megawatts.
MELOX The AREVA MELOX plant, situated in the regional department of Gard
(France), produces MOX fuel assemblies intended to power light-water
reactors in different countries. MELOX is the world leader in this market,
with more than 1,500 metric tons of MOX fuel produced since the plant
started operation.
Metal Fuels Fuels using natural uranium metal, as used in early gas-cooled reactors
like Magnox.
MFT Mean-Field Theory
Milling Process by which minerals are extracted from ore, usually at the mine
site, to produce a mineral concentrate for sale.
MMO Marine Management Organisation: Established by Part I, Chapter I of
the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to make a contribution for
sustainable development in marine areas. The MMO assumed much of
the work of the Marine and Fisheries Agency and also acquired new
roles previously associated with DECC and the Department for
Transport. The MMO is responsible for implementing parts of the
marine planning and licensing system, responding to emergencies
affecting marine areas, and working closely with Natural England to
create and manage a network of marine protected areas.
Please note, however, that marine regulation and licensing has been
devolved in Scottish inshore and offshore waters to the Scottish
Executive (Marine Scotland), in Welsh inshore waters to Welsh
ministers (Marine Consents Unite) and in Northern Ireland’s waters to
the Northern Ireland Executive (Department for the Environment).
Moderator A substance which slows neutrons down in a ʻthermalʼ reactor to enable
fission to take place. The term “thermal” refers to the energy of the
neutrons after moderation (slowing). See Kinetic Energy for a little more
explanation.
MOF / MOLF Marine Off-Loading Facility: A jetty or harbour built at the site of a NPP
for the delivery of materials and construction components.
MOI Mobile Operating Interface
Molecule The smallest portion of a substance that can exist by itself and retain
the properties of the substance. Molecules consist of multiple atoms
and a particular molecule has a specific number of atoms arranged in a
specific way. Water is a molecule consisting of two hydrogen atoms and
one oxygen atom – the hydrogen atoms are bound to opposite sides of
the oxygen atom with an angle of about 104.5° between the two
hydrogen atoms.
Monitoring The measurement of radiation levels, concentrations, surface area
concentrations or quantities of radioactive material and the use of the
results of these measurements to evaluate potential exposures and
doses.
Moorside Moorside is NuGen’s project which aims to develop a new generation
nuclear power station of up to 3.4GW on land in West Cumbria, North
West England.
MOS Monitoring Outstation
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MOX Fuel Mixed Oxide Fuel: A blend of oxides of plutonium and natural uranium,
reprocessed uranium, or depleted uranium which behaves similarly
(though not identically) to the low enriched uranium feed for which most
nuclear reactors were designed. MOX fuel is an alternative to low
enriched uranium fuel used in the light water reactors that predominate
nuclear power generation.
MPower SMR reactor vendor.
MRWS Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: Framework for long term
management and disposal of higher activity waste.
MSR Molten Salt Reactor: Reactor technology at experimental stage.
mSv Mili-Sievert
MTPAS Mobile Telephone Preference Access Service
Multi Package Under a multiple package contract (often referred to in the UK as "multi-
Contract contracting" or "construction management"), the plant owner, with the
assistance of an Architects Engineer (A/E) (or construction manager)
and other consultants, assumes overall responsibility for managing the
design and construction of the project.
MW Megawatt, being one million Watts.
MWe Megawatt electrical: Unit of electrical power produced.
MWth Megawatt thermal: Unit of thermal power produced.
NAIR National Arrangements for Incidents Involving Radioactivity
NAO National Audit Office: The NAO audits most public-sector bodies in the
UK (including the NDA) and produces value-for-money reports into the
implementation of Government policies.
National Park An area of land designated in England, Scotland and Wales at a
national level.
The aims and purposes of National Parks are laid out in the 1949
National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, and are to conserve
and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to
promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the
special qualities by the public and to seek to foster the economic and
social well-being of local communities within the National Parks.
In Scotland, there are additional aims and purposes concerning the
promotion of the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
and to promote sustainable economic and social development of the
area's communities.
For the Broads, aims and purposes relating to navigation are included.
When the aims and purposes conflict with each other, the Sandford
Principle should be used to give more weight to conservation of the
environment.
National Waste The SLC-led forum for sharing common research and development
Research Forum needs, risks and opportunities.
Natural England The Government’s adviser on the natural environment, providing
practical scientific advice on how to look after England's landscapes and
wildlife. Natural England is an executive non-departmental public body,
sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Within England Natural England is responsible for helping land
managers and farmers protect wildlife and landscapes, advising on the
protection of the marine environment in inshore waters (0 to 12 nautical
miles), improving public access to the coastline, supporting National
Trails and managing 140 National Nature Reserves, providing planning
advice and wildlife licences through the planning system, managing
programmes that help restore or recreate wildlife habitats, conserving
and enhancing the landscape, and providing evidence to help make
decisions affecting the natural environment.
Natural Uranium This refers to the properties of naturally-occurring uranium as found in
natural sources. It contains 0.7 percent uranium-235, 99.3 percent
uranium-238, and a trace of uranium-234 by weight. In terms of the
amount of radioactivity, it contains approximately 2.2 percent uranium-
235, 48.6 percent uranium-238, and 49.2 percent uranium-234.
Nawah Energy The new utility company set up to run the UAE NPP project at Barakah
in Abu Dhabi.
NCfN National College for Nuclear
NDA 1 Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: A non-departmental public
body (NDPB) set up in 2005 by the Energy Act 2004 to oversee
the decommissioning and clean-up of the UK’s designated civil
nuclear legacy. Its sponsoring department is DECC.
2 Non-Disclosure Agreement
NDA Properties The wholly owned subsidiary of NDA associated with its property and
Limited management activities.
NDA sites Berkeley, Bradwell, Capenhurst, Chapelcross, Dounreay, Dungeness A,
Harwell, Hinkley Point A, Hunterston A, LLWR (near Drigg), Oldbury,
Sellafield, Sizewell A, Springfields, Trawsfynydd, Winfrith and Wylfa.
Note: The NDA transferred ownership and operation of the Capenhurst
site to Capenhurst Nuclear Solutions (CNS), a URENCO Group
company, in 2012. An agreement has been signed between the NDA
and CNS for the processing of Government-owned by-product and
legacy material on the site. From April 2010 NDA permanently
transferred ownership of Springfields Fuel Ltd to Westinghouse Electric
with a 150 year lease, with Springfields Fuels Ltd contracted to provide
decommissioning and clean-up services to ND for historic liabilities.
NDPB Non-Departmental Public Body: A body which has a role in the process
of national government, but is not a government department or part of
one, and which accordingly operates to a greater or lesser extent at
arm’s length from ministers. More simply, this means a national or
regional public body, operating independently of ministers, but for which
ministers are ultimately responsible.
NDT Non-Destructive Testing
NEA OECD Nuclear Energy Agency: A specialised agency within the OECD.
The mission of the NEA is to assist its Member countries in maintaining
and further developing, through international co-operation, the scientific,
technological and legal bases required for the safe, environmentally
friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

NEBOSH National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health

NEPD Nuclear Emergency Planning Delivery Committee
NEPLG Nuclear Emergency Planning Liaison Group: A forum under the
chairmanship of DECC of a wide range of organisations with interests in
off-site planning for an emergency at a civil or defence nuclear site. In
2012 NEPLG was incorporated into the Nuclear Emergency Planning
Delivery Committee and its associated working groups.
NESA Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance: A collaboration between skills bodies to
ensure a joint approach to addressing the breadth of skills challenges
across the nuclear programme. Members include: CITB, Cogent Skills,
ECITB, NI, NSAN, Semta, DECC, BIS, Welsh Government and HEI
representation
Neutron An uncharged atomic particle found in the nuclei of atoms, which can
cause fission in some atoms.
Neutron flux This term refers to the number of neutrons passing through an area
over a span of time. It is a measure of the intensity of neutron radiation,
2
which is measured in neutrons/cm -sec.
Neutron source This is a general term referring to the variety of materials that emit
neutrons. An example of this is a mixture of radium and beryllium,
which can be inserted into a reactor to ensure a neutron flux large
enough to be distinguished from background radiation on neutron
detection equipment.
New Build Utilities There are three nuclear new build utilities in the UK: NNB GenCo with
plans to build 6.4GW of new nuclear, NuGeneration Ltd who are
planning 3.6GW capacity and Horizon Nuclear Power generating at
least 5.4GW.
NEWS Nuclear Events Web-based System: A system run jointly by the IAEA,
the NEA and WANO. The purpose of NEWS is to provide fast, flexible
and authoritative information on the occurrence of nuclear events that
are of interest to the international community.
NEWS has been established to cover all significant events in nuclear
power plants, research reactors, nuclear fuel cycle facilities and
occurrences involving radiation sources or the transport of radioactive
material.
NFCE Nuclear Fuel Centre of Excellence: A Centre run jointly by NNL and The
University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute, and based in their
respective facilities at sites in Manchester, Preston and West Cumbria.
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation: Independent pressure groups often
adopting a strong stance for campaigning against nuclear power.
Government decisions (policy or otherwise) to pursue nuclear projects
are often met with resistance from NGOs and are regularly challenged
in the courts by way of Judicial Review. Prominent anti-nuclear NGOs
include Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.
NGR National Grid Reference
NI Nuclear Institute: Created on the 1 January 2009 from the merger of the
British Nuclear Energy Society and the Institution of Nuclear Engineers.
The Nuclear Institute is a charity, professional institute and a learned
society. The Institute offers a range of memberships from professorial
level to layperson with an interest in nuclear matters.
NIA 1 Nuclear Installations Act 1965
NIA 2 Nuclear Industry Association: The trade association and
representative voice of Britain’s civil nuclear industry. It
represents more than 270 companies including the operators
and vendors of nuclear power stations, those engaged in
decommissioning, waste management, nuclear liabilities
management and all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear
equipment suppliers, engineering and construction firms,
nuclear research organisations, and legal, financial and
consultancy companies.
[Link]
NIAS Nuclear Industry Airwave Signal
NIC The Nuclear Industry Council
NII Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, whose functions are now within the
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
NIMBY “Not In My Back Yard"
NIRAB Nuclear Innovation Research Advisory Board: Established by UK
Government as part of the Nuclear Industrial Strategy in 2013, NIRAB is
made up of nuclear research experts from across industry, academia
and Government and has the remit to advise Government on priorities
for UK nuclear R&D and innovation required to underpin policy.
NIREX Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive: The company
established to manage the long-term disposal of ILW arising from
nuclear waste management and decommissioning. In October 2006 the
Government announced that the functions of Nirex would transfer to the
NDA. The integration of Nirex into the NDA was completed on 2 April
2007 and now forms part of the Radioactive Waste Management
Directorate.
NIRO Nuclear Innovation & Research Office: A small team, hosted in NNL,
which will develop and take forward the work of the NIRAB in helping to
define a national programme of nuclear energy R&D for the UK.
NISR The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003: The NISR provide for
the security regulation of the UK civil nuclear sector. In particular, the
NISR define the term “nuclear material” for the purposes of the Anti-
Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.
NLF Nuclear Liabilities Fund: A Scottish registered company holding
investments with a market value of £8.85bn at 31 March 2014, for the
purpose of providing funding to meet certain waste management costs
of and, in due course, the decommissioning liabilities of, the eight
nuclear power stations of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Group
Limited.
NLFAB Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board: DECC has created an
independent board to provide impartial scrutiny and advice on the
suitability of the Funded Decommissioning Programme (FDP),
submitted by operators of new nuclear power stations. The Board will
advise the Secretary of State on the financial arrangements that
operators submit for approval, and on the regular review and on-going
scrutiny of funding. NLFAB has robust powers to protect the funds
supporting operators’ FDPs.
NNA National Nuclear Archive: A project funded by the Nuclear
Decommissioning Authority to build a new purpose-built archive facility
at Wick to provide long-term storage of records and other archive
material from civil nuclear sites in the UK from 2016.
NNB GenCo Nuclear New Build Generation Company Limited: The holding company
responsible for the development of the project at Hinkley Point C. NNB
Generation Company Limited is wholly owned by EDF Energy.
NNL The UK's National Nuclear Laboratory: Owned and managed by UK
Government. NNL operates on a number of sites – mainly in the North
West of England – including Sellafield and Springfields.
NNL is a leading nuclear technology services provider, which operates
as a commercial business – competing for and delivering work for
paying customers. The company has experience all across the fuel
cycle and specialises in providing customers with tailored solutions by
applying the right level of technical innovation and intellectual support.
No Harm The risk of death of one in one million per annum which is generally
Threshold considered in the radiation protection community as equating to a dose
of 10 micro Sieverts.
NORM Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials: Materials found naturally and
are often found in the wastes arising from the oil, gas and mining
industries.
NORMS National Objectives, Requirements and Model Standards
Notification An alert provided to national or international contacts providing details of
a nuclear emergency or potential nuclear emergency.
NPDUK Nuclear Power Delivery UK: The partnership team between
Westinghouse, Shaw Group, Laing O'Rourke and Toshiba, working to
deliver the AP1000 nuclear power reactor to the UK.
NPE Nuclear Pressure Equipment
NPP Nuclear Power Plant:
1 A nuclear reactor or reactors together with all structures,
systems and components necessary for the safe generation of
electricity and/or heat.
2 An electrical generating facility using a nuclear reactor as its
heat source to provide steam to a turbine generator.
NPS National Policy Statements: Documents issued by the Secretary of
State setting out national policy in relation to one or more specified
descriptions of NSIP development. There is an overarching Energy NPS
(EN-1). The others relate to specific areas, for example, the Nuclear
Power Generation NPS (EN-6).
There are 12 designated or proposed NPSs in total. Of these, seven
have been designated by Parliament.
NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission: The US equivalent of the ONR.
NRPB The National Radiological Protection Board was a public authority in the
UK created by the Radiological Protection Act 1970. In 2005 NRPB
was amalgamated into the Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and
Environmental Hazards (CRCE) which is a division of the HPA.
NRW Natural Resources Wales: The new environmental regulator for Wales
with oversight of the Wylfa Newydd project.
4
NS P (formerly Nuclear Skills Passport: A highly secure web based platform that can be
NSP) used to record and demonstrate the achievement of competence and
nationally agreed and recognised skills and training standards as a tool
to drive performance improvement and support transferability and
mobility of the workforce.
[Link]
NSAN National Skills Academy for Nuclear: An employer-led organisation
established to ensure that the UK Nuclear Industry and its Supply Chain
has the skilled, competent and safe work-force it needs to deal with the
current and future UK nuclear programme, including all sub-sectors.
NSAN
is "The lead strategic body that represents the industry to stimulate,
coordinate and enable excellence in skills to support the nuclear
programme."
[Link]
NSAN-M National Skills Academy Nuclear Manufacturing: An expansion to the
remit of NSA Nuclear to ensure the skills needs for manufacturing in the
nuclear supply chain are addressed. This is in partnership with Semta
SSC and Nuclear AMRC to ensure a ‘one stop shop’ for manufacturing
nuclear skills development.
NSC Nuclear Safety Committee: A specific requirement for licensee’s
compliance to Licence Condition (LC) 13. The purpose of this condition
is to ensure that the licensee sets up a nuclear safety committee (NSC)
which can consider and advise on all matters which may affect safety on
or off the licensed site. The committee must have members who are
adequately qualified to perform this task and to provide a source of
authoritative advice to the licensee.
NSCP Nuclear Supply Chain Partnership: Bings together manufacturing
companies who have a realistic offering to the nuclear developer,
reactor vendor, and top tiers of the supply chain. It acts as a business
tool to create a manufacturing legacy for the UK.
NSIP Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project: These are large
infrastructure projects specified in the Planning Act 2008 such as new
nuclear power stations. Other developments that can be a NSIP include
other power stations (including offshore wind farms), gas storage
facilities, energy transmission systems, energy from waste projects,
road, port, airport, reservoirs and major waste water treatment plants
and water transfer schemes.
Applications relating to an NSIP are made to the Secretary of State for a
Development Consent Order (DCO) which replaces the old regime of
applications for Section 36 Consents under the Electricity Act 1989
(although this remains for some applications which fall outside of the
NSIP regime). DCOs bring together a number of different planning and
consenting regimes including planning permission, compulsory
purchase powers, the diversion or stopping up of rights of way and
marine licences.
The individual scheme promoter engages in significant community and
stakeholder consultation before making its formal application to the
Secretary of State, who will decide whether or not to grant development
consent in accordance with relevant designated National Policy
Statements (NPSs).
The Secretary of State determines the proposal after the examination of
the NSIP application by an examiner (or examiners), appointed by the
Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State. That
examination process is principally made up of the submission of written
representations, but can also include hearings before the examiner(s).
The Secretary of State's decisions are open to legal challenge.
NSSS Nuclear Steam Supply System: That part of an NPP which incorporates
the nuclear heat source, the heat transport system and other systems
directly connected to the NSSS. Usually referred to as “N-triple S”.

NTN Nuclear Training Network: An online learning portal for the Nuclear
Industry where employers and providers can share and enable access
to training resources.
[Link]

Nuclear AMRC Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre: Works with

companies along the UK civil nuclear manufacturing supply chain,
combining the manufacturing and engineering expertise of the
University of Sheffield with the nuclear and materials capacity of Dalton
Nuclear Institute at the University of Manchester.
Nuclear Concrete Concrete for the construction of the nuclear island, usually a key
Regulatory Hold Point.
Nuclear Energy The energy released by a nuclear reaction (either fission or fusion) or by
radioactive decay.
Nuclear Fuel Uranium or plutonium which has been fabricated into pins, assemblies,
plates, or other such similar form for the purposes of fuelling a nuclear
reactor. Other High-Z elements are capable of being used as nuclear
fuel (e.g. thorium). For fusion reactors.
Nuclear fuel cycle See Fuel Cycle.
Nuclear Established by the NDA and supported by a range of employers the
Graduates Nuclear Graduate Programme is for those looking to enter the nuclear
Programme industry but wishing to work with a variety of employers in the sector to
develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the sector through a
range of placements.
Nuclear The Nuclear Installations Act 1965: The NIA 1965 is the principal piece
Installations Act of UK legislation implementing the Paris Convention and Brussels
1965 Convention in the UK and sets out statutory provisions for nuclear
liability and licensing of nuclear installations.
Nuclear Island Nuclear Island: That part of an NPP which incorporates all equipment,
(NI) systems, installation and control and other relevant hardware installed
within the reactor and reactor auxiliary buildings. The boundaries of the
NI are normally defined as being one metre outside the external
boundaries of the above mentioned buildings in the case of piping and
two metres for cable.
An NPP is divided into two main parts i.e. the nuclear island and the
conventional island. The nuclear island is further sub-divided into the
NSSS and the balance of nuclear island i.e. everything else that needs
to be designed, constructed and tested to complete the nuclear island.
Nuclear Liability The strict legal liability of a Licensee for all nuclear damage as defined
under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
Nuclear Lifecycle A whole lifecycle approach to a nuclear power project consisting of
several phases: R&D, Conceptual Design, Detailed Design,
Construction, Commissioning, Operations and Maintenance,
Refurbishment or Life Extension (if applicable) and Decommissioning.
Nuclear Non- A process by which the spread of nuclear weapons technology is
Proliferation prevented. See also the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons.
Nuclear Reactor 1 A device in which nuclear fission may be sustained and
controlled in a self-supporting nuclear reaction. The varieties
are many, but all incorporate certain features, including
fissionable material or fuel, a moderating material (unless the
reactor is operated on fast neutrons), a reflector to conserve
escaping neutrons, provisions of removal of heat, measuring
and controlling instruments, and protective devices. The reactor
is the heart of a nuclear power plant.
2 A device in which a fusion chain reaction can be initiated,
maintained, and controlled. Its essential components are fuel,
shielding, and coolant. There are different approaches to fusion
of which ITER, being a development of the JET reactor at
Culham and the US National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory are two leading different
approaches.
Nuclear Safety The protection of people and the environment from the harmful effects
of ionising radiation.
Nuclear Safety Nuclear Safety Culture: IAEA Safety Series No75-INSAG-4 Safety
Culture Culture defines NSC as "that assembly of characteristics and attitudes
in organisations and individuals which establishes that, as an overriding
priority, nuclear plant safety issues receive the attention warranted by
their significance”.
Nuclear Site See Site Licence.
Licence
Nuclear Supply The system of organisations, people, technology, activities, information
Chain and resources involved in moving nuclear energy from
generator/supplier to customer.
Nuclear Waste A particular type of radioactive waste that is produced as part of the
nuclear fuel cycle. Radioactive waste is a broader term that includes all
waste that contains radioactivity. Nuclear waste is produced as a result
of the activities needed to produce nuclear fission. These include
extraction of uranium from ore, concentration of uranium, processing
into nuclear fuel, and disposal of by-products.
Nucleus The core of an atom, occupying little of the volume, containing most of
the mass, and bearing positive electric charge. It consists of protons
and neutrons with the number of protons defining the identity of the
element. Different isotopes of the same element have (by definition) the
same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons in the
nucleus.
NuGen NuGeneration Limited: A UK nuclear company taking forward plans to
build up to 3.4GW of new nuclear as part of its Moorside project north
and west of the Sellafield complex in West Cumbria. NuGen is a joint
venture between Toshiba and Engie. The project contains plans for
three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built on the site, with
capacity of 3.6GW, supplying 3.4GW to the National Grid.
It is intended that the first reactor will be on-line by 2024. Technology
provider Westinghouse will deliver the reactors via an EPC contract.
The AP1000 is in the final phase of the GDA process which is expected
to be completed early 2017. NuGen’s Moorside project is currently the
largest new nuclear reactor development planned in Europe, with its
three AP1000’s planned to provide 7% of the UK’s future electricity
needs. Moorside will also become the biggest nuclear output from a
single UK nuclear power station.
NuScale USA based vendor of SMR technology rated at 45 MWe.
OCC Outage Control Centre

OCNS Formerly Office for Civil Nuclear Security: It was a unit within HSE which
regulated security arrangements in the civil nuclear industry, including
security of nuclear material in transit, exercising statutory powers. This
was primarily in order to protect against the threats of terrorism and
nuclear proliferation.
The OCNS is now part of the Office for Nuclear Regulation and its
responsibilities fall under the Office for Nuclear Regulation Civil Nuclear
Security (CNS).
OE Operational Experience
OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: An
international organisation of 34 countries helping governments tackle
the economic, social and governance challenges of a globalised
economy.
OEF Operational Experience Feedback
Off the Bars When a nuclear power station is not generating electricity.
Off-site release Postulated outcome in safety engineering. Release of radioactivity
which leaves the site boundary.
Oi Nuclear power plant located in the town of Oi in Japan.
OJEU Official Journal of the European Union: All procurement in the public
sector is subject to EC Treaty principles of non-discrimination, equal
treatment and transparency. The EC Public Procurement Directives
require contracting authorities, such as NDA, to provide details of
procurements in a prescribed format, which are then published in the
OJEU.
OL Organisational Learning
Olkiluoto Site of a new EPR reactor being built in Finland owned by Teollisuuden
Voima Oyj (TVO). TVO operates two existing reactors at the site and, in
addition to the EPR, a fourth reactor is to be built there although the
timing for decisions on this has slipped.
OND Office for Nuclear Development: Part of DECC, its remit is to facilitate
new nuclear investment in the UK to:
(a) enable operators to build and operate new nuclear power
stations in the UK from the earliest possible date and to enable
new nuclear to make the fullest contribution it is capable of, with
no public subsidy, and with unnecessary obstacles removed;
(b) build and maintain the UK as the best market in the world for
companies to do business in nuclear power;
(c) create and support a globally competitive UK supply chain,
focusing on high value added activities to take advantage of the
UK and worldwide nuclear programme; and
(d) support and advise the Secretary of State on nuclear safety,
security and safeguards, ensure continued progress with waste
management and decommissioning and to implement the
Governments Global Threat Reduction Programme (non-
proliferation).
It was created by John Hutton in 2008 and was the first of the “Offices”
in the energy policy area. The founding Chief Executive was Mark
Higson and the Expert Chair was Dr Tim Stone CBE. The team has
keenly maintained the word “for” in its title rather than the more
conventional “of”.
ONR The Office for Nuclear Regulation: Established in April 2011 to replace
the NIl and responsible for all nuclear sector regulation across the UK.
The ONR is no longer an agency of the Health and Safety Executive
and is now a public corporation.
ONR is the regulatory and enforcing authority on GB nuclear sites with a
scope of nuclear safety, conventional safety, security, safeguards, and
transport.
ONR was created following the recommendations of the Stone Review
commissioned in 2008 by John Hutton as Secretary of State for BERR.
ONR Security ONR security requirements for the protection of Sensitive Nuclear
Policy Framework Information and personnel security in the civil nuclear industry
Reference TRIM Ref:4.4.2.4890.SB1/6.
Operation and The operational costs of running a nuclear power plant excluding fuel
Maintenance and any capital costs.
Costs
Operational A masterplan which covers the operational life of a facility, following
masterplan construction and prior to decommissioning.
OPEX Operational Experience
Optimisation The process of ensuring that radiation protection measures are as
effective as possible. Also known as the second radiation protection
principle.
Order Plans The Order Plans are those plans which accompany the draft DCO as
required by the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms
and Procedure) Regulations 2009, and include, inter alia, plans showing
land, works, access, statutory and non-statutory designations.
Orphan Source A radioactive source that is not under the control of a Licensee.
ORR Office of Rail Regulation
OSPAR Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment
of the North-East Atlantic: The OSPAR Convention impacts on the
disposal of liquid effluent into the marine environment.
Outage Period of reactor shutdown during which a nuclear power station ceases
to generate electricity. Can be planned, for example for maintenance,
or unplanned. Many reactor types can only be refuelled on outage.
Oxide Fuels Enriched or natural uranium in the form of oxide UO2, or Mixed Oxide
(MOX) used in many types of reactor. Pure metal fuels can also be
used in other reactor designs (e.g. Magnox).
Packaging Fuel packaging: A special way of processing spent fuel for temporary
storage or final disposal.
Waste packaging: An operation whereby waste is converted into a form
suitable for transportation and/or storage and/or final disposal.
(a) Very low-level radioactive waste (vinyl, cleaning rags, etc.) is
placed in steel drums.
(b) Low- and intermediate-level waste is first compacted to reduce
its volume as far as possible, then encapsulated in a special
material (concrete, bitumen or resin matrix) to form solid blocks
capable of withstanding all environmental conditions.
(c) High-level waste is placed in a glass mixture (vitrification
process). Once vitrified, the waste is placed in stainless steel
canisters.
Paramaters In relation to a DCO, the Order (in particular its provisions) will set the
parameters of the scheme in relation to form, scale, location and
elements of the scheme including any restrictions, or limits of deviation
if any subsequent flexibility is to be allowed. Such parameters must
relate to the assessment of environmental impacts that have been
carried out. There is also a relationship with the "Rochdale Envelope" in
terms of how schemes may evolve, the need to understand the
relationship between parameters and robust assessment of significant
environmental effects.
Paris Convention The main international convention on third party nuclear liability
alongside the Brussels Convention. The Paris Convention provides for
compensation for injury to or loss of life of any person and for damage
to, or loss of, any property caused by a nuclear accident in a nuclear
installation or during the transport of nuclear substances to and from
installations. It does not cover damage to the nuclear installation itself.
The principles of the Paris Convention are implemented into UK law by
the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
PAS Public Address System ("Tannoy")
Passively safe A passively safe facility can be safely shut down automatically – without
any operator intervention and without any external power supply from
the grid or from backup generators to drive instruments or equipment.
Following the disaster at Fukushima this has attracted greater attention.
PAWB People Against Wylfa B, see NGO (note that Wylfa B is now known as
Wylfa Newydd – see below).
PBA Parent Body Agreement: The contract between the NDA and the PBO.
PBI Performance Based Incentives: Contractual figures which include
performance-based incentives, key goals, objectives, targets or
milestones agreed at the beginning of a financial year and of sufficient
importance to warrant incentivisation (typically through a fee) to
motivate the contractor to achieve.
PBO Parent Body Organisation: The shareholder of the relevant SLC which is
incentivised by the NDA to achieve "more decommissioning for less".
The principal roles of the PBO are:
(a) to hold shares in the SLC;
(b) to second staff to the SLC;
(c) to provide normal parent company functions; and
(d) to improve the capability and performance of the SLC.
The current PBOs are:
(a) Nuclear Management Partners, a partnership comprising
AMEC, AREVA and URS (holding shares in Sellafield Limited);
(b) Cavendish Fluor Partnership (holding shares in Magnox Limited
which now includes ex RSRL);
(c) Cavendish Dounreay Partnership, a partnership comprising
Cavendish Nuclear Services Limited, CH2M Hill and URS
Holdings Limited (holding shares in Dounreay Site Restoration
Limited); and
(d) UK Nuclear Waste Management Limited (holding shares in LLW
Repository Limited).
PCI Pellet Cladding Interaction
Period of The period from the date a Nuclear Site Licence is granted to the date
Responsibility the ONR provides written confirmation that the activities for which the
licence was required have ceased and the site has reached the No
Harm Threshold required for de-licensing, whether or not the Nuclear
Site Licence has already been surrendered or revoked.
PETIS Public Emergency Telephone Information System
PHE Public Health England (formerly HPA/NRPB)
PHWR Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor: A reactor type which uses natural
uranium as its fuel and heavy water as the coolant e.g. CANDU. The
Canadian CANDU design is the most common example.
Physical Measures taken to prevent unauthorised access to nuclear material.
Protection
PIE Post Irradiation Examination
Pig A US colloquialism describing a container used to ship or store
radioactive materials. The thick walls of this shielding device, which are
usually made of lead or depleted uranium, protect the person handling
the container from radiation. Large containers used for spent fuel
storage are commonly called casks.
Also an implement used for cleaning rust and alien substances from a
piping system.
Pile A term that was used to describe the first nuclear reactors – the
"Windscale Piles" situated at the modern-day Sellafield site. They were
called piles because the earliest reactors were "piles" of graphite and
uranium blocks.
On 10 October 1957, the core of the Unit 1 reactor caught fire and
released a large amount of radioactive into the air, notably isotope
iodine-131. The "Windscale Fire" remains the UK's worst nuclear
incident, classified as level 5 on the INES.
PIOI Plant Item Operating Instruction
Planning Act 2008 Act of Parliament which, amongst other things, establishes the new
regime for the consenting of Nationally Significant Infrastructure
Projects (NSIPs) and introduces National Policy Statements (NPSs).
PLO Police Liaison Officer
Plutonium (Pu) A heavy, radioactive, manmade metallic element with atomic number
94. There are thirteen known isotopes of plutonium, the most important
of which in the nuclear industry is isotope Pu-239 which undergoes
fission with slow-moving neutrons.
PMO Principal Medical Officer
PNTL Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited: PNTL is owned by INS (62.5%),
AREVA (12.5%) and a consortium of Japanese nuclear companies
(25%) and its fleet is managed by Serco Limited. PNTL operates a fleet
of purpose built ships capable of carrying all categories of nuclear
material.
POCO Post Operational Clean Out: The first stage in preparing plant for care
and maintenance after operations have ceased.
Pond Water storage facility for encased nuclear waste and fuel units awaiting
reprocessing.
Pool reactor Reactor in which fuel elements are submerged in an open water pool.
The water serves as a moderator, reflector and coolant. Popularly called
a "swimming pool reactor", it is used for research and training, not for
electricity generation.
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
Practice A human activity that involves the introduction of a new source of
exposure to people or increases an existing exposure. A new practice
requires a justification decision.
Pressure vessel A closed, strong-walled container housing the core of most power
reactors and designed to hold gases or liquids at high pressures. It
usually also contains the moderator, neutron reflector, thermal shield,
and control rods.
PRISM Power Reactor Innovative Small Module: Also known as S-PRISM or
SuperPRISM, PRISM is a fast breeding reactor developed by Hitachi
GE Nuclear Energy. Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy announced in July
2012 that it had submitted a proposal to the NDA outlining the feasibility
of the PRISM reactor to dispose of the UK's current stockpile of
plutonium.
Protective Barrier A material or set of materials that absorbs radiation and is designed to
reduce exposure.
Protective Marking scheme published by the UK Government which is applied to
Marking Scheme documents and correspondence containing sensitive nuclear
(UK) information. Allowable protective markings are:
(a) OFFICIAL
(b) SECRET
(c) TOP SECRET
The terms “UNCLASSIFIED”, “NON” and “NOT PROTECTIVELY
MARKED” are used to indicate positively that a protective marking is not
needed for the document or item of correspondence in question.
All of the above terms should be avoided outside the context of the
marking scheme.
Proton An elementary particle with unit atomic mass approximately and unit
positive electric charge. One of the two elementary particles found in
atomic nuclei.
PSA Probabilistic Safety Assessment, sometimes also known as PRA
(Probabilistic Risk Assessment): Methodology to probabilistically
estimate risks. Fault tree analysis and event tree analysis are integral
techniques to PSA. This mathematical tool is used for calculating the
risk of certain problems or accidents occurring at a nuclear power
station.
Pu See Plutonium.
PUNE Public Understanding of Nuclear Energy: One of the work-streams of
the Nuclear Industry Council.
PUREX Plutonium Uranium Redox Extraction: A solvent extraction process, and
the reprocessing process used in THORP and other reprocessing plants
to separate out uranium and plutonium from highly active fission
products when spent nuclear fuel is recycled.
PWR Pressurised Water Reactor: A reactor whose primary coolant is
maintained under such a pressure that no bulk boiling occurs. The
reactor uses light water as a moderator and as a coolant. In the UK,
Sizewell B is one such reactor operated by EDF Energy Nuclear
Generation Limited (formally British Energy).
Quality The process by which a developer ensures that standards are met
Assurance during manufacturing.
Quarterly Quarterly emissions level, specified by the Environment Agency in the
Notification nuclear operator's Environment Permit, and which, if exceeded, must be
Levels reported to the Environment Agency.
R2P2 Reducing Risks Protecting People: A document which describes the
decision-making process of the HSE. It aims to make the procedures
and protocols which the HSE follows transparent so as to ensure that
the HSE's decision-making process, including risk assessment and risk
management, is perceived as valid.
Radiation The process of emitting energy as waves or particles. The energy is
thus radiated. Frequently used for ionising radiation, except when it is
necessary to avoid confusion with non-ionising radiation.
Radiation Dose A numerical dose figure based on knowledge and assessment that is
Constraints used as a planning aid for minimising individual radiation dose.
Radiation The protection of people from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.
Protection
Radiation Reducing the level of radiation between a radioactive source and a
shielding person by interposing a shield of absorbing material.
Radioactive Formerly the principal piece of legislation regulating radioactive
Substances Act substances (still in force but largely repealed or application amended).
1993 (RSA 1993)
In England and Wales, the Environmental Permitting regime has
replaced the authorisation regime contained in the RSA 1993, such that
an Environmental Permit must now be obtained from the Environment
Agency rather than an authorisation under the RSA 1993 (see
Environmental Permit and Radioactive Substances Regulation).
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the authorisation regime under the
RSA 1993 (and subordinate legislation) continues to apply.
Radioactive The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010, Schedule 23, replace
Substances the relevant sections of the Radioactive Substance Act 1993 for
Regulation (RSR) legislative controls on keeping and use of radioactive substances and
the accumulation or discharge of radioactive waste.
Radioactive Radioactive materials at the end of a useful life cycle or in a product that
Waste is no longer useful and should be properly disposed of.
Radioactivity The spontaneous emission of radiation, generally alpha or beta
particles, often accompanied by gamma rays, from the nucleus of an
unstable isotope. Also, the rate at which radioactive material emits
radiation. Measured in units of becquerels or disintegrations per second.
Other measurements are used (e.g. Sieverts) which relate to
physiological effects.
Radionuclide An unstable nuclide that emits ionising radiation.
Radium An element which is a radioactive decay product of uranium often found
in uranium ore. It has several radioactive isotopes.
Radon A heavy radioactive gas given off by rocks containing radium (or
thorium). These rocks have existed since the formation of Earth’s crust
and radon is often the single largest contributor to an individual's
background radiation dose, and is the most variable from location to
location. Radon is a noble gas (a Group VIII element) – other members
of the series are helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon.
RADSAFE Transport emergency arrangements used by the main organisations in
the UK nuclear industry.
RAG Red/Amber/Green in a risk assessment.

RAIB Rail Accident investigation Branch

RCA 1 Radiation Control Area

2 Reactor Controlled Area
RCC-E Design Rules for Electrical Equipment in the Nuclear Island: French
electrical design guide published by AFCEN (French Association for
Design, Construction and In-Service Inspection Rules for Nuclear Island
Components).
RCC-M AFCEN's (see above) RCC-M code concerns the mechanical
components designed and manufactured for pressurised water reactors
(PWR). It applies to pressure equipment in nuclear islands in safety
classes 1, 2 and 3, and certain non-pressure components, such as
vessel internals, supporting structures for safety class components,
storage tanks and containment penetrations.
RD Responsible Designer: Generally NPP Designers and Operators do not
have all the detailed, specialised knowledge required of all the systems
and components important to nuclear and industrial safety. They may
 therefore assign their responsibilities for some parts of the plant to other
entities that do have that knowledge. Such entities are not simple
subcontractors; they have a formal responsibility for maintaining their
specialised knowledge of design and their competence in the detailed
design process.
Reactor Pressure The part of the NPP which houses the reactor core and cooling system.
Vessel
Reactor The Reactor Protection Systems are designed to automatically shut-
Protection down the reactor and maintain it shut-down when needed. Facilities to
System instigate a manual backup are provided in whole or part.
Reactor Vendor A company selling its reactor design to potential operators.
Reference One of a range of accidents at a nuclear reactor or other nuclear
accident installation that can reasonably be foreseen in safety analysis as giving
rise to the most significant release of radionuclides from the site.
Regulatory Body An authority which regulates any aspect of the planning, construction,
operation and decommissioning of a nuclear power plant.
Regulatory Hold A system of approvals that must be specifically given by the ONR
Points before an operator can continue with the construction or operation of a
nuclear power plant.
REM (US terminology) Roentgen Equivalent Man: A standard unit of radiation
dose. It measures the effects of ionising radiation on humans. The dose
equivalent in REMs is equal to the absorbed dose in rads multiplied by
the quality factor of the type of radiation.
Remediation A general term for providing a remedy. Environmental remediation deals
with the removal of pollution or contaminants from soil, groundwater,
sediment or surface water etc. for the general protection of human
health and the environment.
Renewable One of the three types of Green Energy Certificate that generators of
Energy electricity from renewable sources may be entitled to claim. REGOs do
Guarantees of not have a monetary value in the same way as ROCs and LECs.
Origin (REGOs) Rather, their main purpose is as evidence of renewable electricity
production. This is particularly useful for renewable generators who are
not eligible under the Renewables Obligation. Suppliers are obliged to
give their customers details of the mix of fuels used to produce the
electricity supplied to them, and are therefore likely to want to purchase
electricity from generators with a REGO.
Renewables The current main mechanism for supporting large scale generation of
Obligation renewable electricity in the UK. It was introduced in April 2002 and
places an obligation on UK suppliers of electricity to source an
increasing proportion of their electricity from renewable sources.
Repository Long term radioactive waste storage facility.
REPPIR The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information)
Regulations 2001
Reprocessing Recycling of spent nuclear fuel into reusable uranium, plutonium and
fission products. In the UK this work is currently carried out at the
THORP facility at Sellafield in Cumbria, although the THORP plant will
be closed in 2018. In France, AREVA operates the La Hague facility on
the French Cotentin Peninsula. It has been in operation since 1976,
and has a capacity of about 1700 tonnes per year. Japan has a not
dissimilar facility at Rokkasho.
Requesting Party The companies who have submitted a nuclear reactor design for
assessment by the ONR and EA.
Requirements A DCO should include “Requirements” to which the development
 authorised by the DCO is to be subject. Similar to planning conditions, a
requirement specifies the matters for which detailed approval needs to
be obtained before the development can be lawfully begin.
Research Reactor A nuclear reactor that is used solely for research purposes.
RHILW Remote Handled ILW: Package radioactive ILW that, because of its
external dose rate, is unable to be directly handled and requires the
need of remote handling equipment.
RIMNET Radioactive Incidents Monitoring Network: A network of monitoring
stations used by the UK Government to assess the levels of
radioactivity across the UK.
RIO Rail Incident Officer
Risk Risk is calculated in a three stage process:
(a) What can go wrong?
(b) How likely is it to occur?
(c) What are the potential consequences?

RMADS Risk Management Accredited Document Set: The set of documents

used by ONR and other Government Agencies (e.g. the Ministry of
Defence) to accredit networks to hold sensitive HMG information.
RMTT Radioactive Materials Transport Team: Unit within Government which
has control over issues relating to the transport and movement of
nuclear material by road and rail throughout Great Britain. Also adopts
an advisory road where radioactive material is transported by sea or air
in the UK.
RMTT was formerly part of DfT, but it was transferred to ONR in
October 2011, principally to ensure that the Secretary of State at DECC
is the “competent authority” for matters concerning the transport of
radioactive material.
Rochdale A term derived from EIA case law which seeks to balance the need for
Envelope flexibility for a development not fully defined with the ability to assess
the likely significant effects of such a scheme upon the environment,
and any necessary mitigation, and to set these out in an Environmental
Statement. A consent must create "clearly defined parameters" within
which the framework of development must take place.
ROCs Renewables Obligation Certificate: A Green Energy Certificate issued to
an accredited generator for eligible renewable electricity generated
within the United Kingdom and supplied to customers within the United
Kingdom by a licensed electricity supplier. Suppliers meet their
obligations under the Renewables Obligation by presenting sufficient
Renewables Obligation Certificates. Where suppliers do not have
sufficient ROCs to meet their obligations, they must pay an equivalent
amount into a fund, the proceeds of which are paid back on a pro-rated
basis to those suppliers that have presented ROCs.
Roentgen A unit of radiation exposure that is equal to the quantity of ionizing
radiation that will produce one electrostatic unit of electricity in one cubic
centimetre of dry air at 0°C and standard atmospheric pressure. No
longer widely used.
Rosatom Russian based full cycle nuclear services company and international
developer of VVER-1200 for international projects.
RoSPA Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
RP Reactor Physicist
RPA Radiation Protection Advisor
RPP Radiation Protection Programme
RPS Radiation Protection Supervisor
RSR Permit A permit to make certain radioactive discharges to the environment
issued by the EA under Schedule 23 of the Environmental Permitting
(England and Wales) Regulations 2010 as amended. One of the
operational permits required to operate a nuclear power station.
RSRL Research Sites Restoration Limited: Formerly the site licence company
at the Harwell and Winfrith sites, but the sites are now part of Magnox
Ltd.
RWM Ltd Formerly known as Radioactive Waste Management Directorate, on 1st
April 2014 Radioactive Waste Management Directorate became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the NDA and is now known as Radioactive
Waste Management Limited (RWM Ltd). It continues to be responsible
for delivering Government policy for geological disposal of higher
activity radioactive waste and for developing waste management
solutions.
RWMD Radioactive Waste Management Directive: See RWM Ltd.

SAC A special area of conservation pursuant to the Habitats Directive due to

its unique characteristics as a habitat.
SACI Significant Adverse Condition Investigation
Safeguards 1 A term used in the regulation of domestic nuclear facilities and
materials. The use of material control and accounting programs
must verify that all special nuclear material is properly controlled
and accounted for, and the physical protection equipment and
security forces; and
2 As used by the International Atomic Energy Agency (‘IAEA’),
verifying that the "peaceful use" commitments made in binding
non-proliferation agreements, both bilateral and multilateral, are
honoured.
Safety Case A documented body of evidence which is submitted to regulators to
provide a convincing and valid argument that a specified system is safe
for a given application in a given context or environment.
Safety Rod A control rod used to decrease the reactor reactivity in the case of
emergencies.
SBERGs Symptom Based Emergency Response Guidelines: Provide advisory
guidance to nuclear operators following a beyond design basis accident
in an advanced gas cooled reactor.
SCC Strategic Co-ordination Centre
SCO Safety Case Officer
SCRAM Emergency shutdown of a nuclear reactor involving insertion of control
rods.
SDP 1 Silos Direct Encapsulation Plant: The project to process nuclear
waste recovered from the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo on the
Sellafield site and package it ready for long term storage.
2 Sellafield Direct Encapsulation Plant (in the context of Sellafield
Limited).
3 Submarine Dismantling Project (in the context of the Ministry of
Defence).
4 Sodium Disposal Plant (in the context of Dounreay).
Sealed Source A device in which a radioactive material has been contained within an
outer casing. This outer casing makes an accidental release of the
contents extremely unlikely. Sealed sources have an extensive range of
medical, educational and industrial uses, notably in general diagnosis
and cancer treatments, and in the oil and gas industries.
Semta The skills body for engineering and advanced manufacturing
technologies sectors.
SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency: Scotland’s environmental
regulator. The main role is to protect and improve the environment.
SEPA is a non-departmental public body, accountable through Scottish
Ministers to the Scottish Parliament. SEPA has been advising Scottish
Ministers, regulated businesses, industry and the public on
environmental best practice for over a decade.
SERT Standby Emergency Response Team
SFAIRP So far as is reasonably practicable
SFL Springfields Fuels Limited (see Springfields)
Shex / Created in September 2003 to improve the Government’s performance
Shareholder as a shareholder in businesses. Shex currently has a portfolio of 26
Executive businesses in which the Government has a shareholding. Their role is to
work with Government departments and management teams to help
these businesses perform better. Shex want to create a climate of
ownership that, while challenging, is genuinely supportive and provides
the framework for them to succeed. Shex advise ministers and officials
on a wide range of shareholder issues including objectives, governance,
strategy, performance monitoring, board appointments and
remuneration. Companies within Shex include UKAEA, the National
Nuclear Laboratory and Urenco (amongst other non-nuclear assets).
Shielding Broadly, the use of certain protective materials to prevent or reduce the
amount of ionising radiation to which people and/or equipment are
exposed.
Sievert (Sv) The Sievert is a measurement unit of radiation close to living tissue. It
is the international system (SI) derived unit for a dose equivalent to 1
Joule/kilogram. 1 Sievert = 100 rem. It is named after Rolf Sievert, a
Swedish physicist famous for work on the biological effects of radiation.
The effective dose in Sieverts is calculated as the absorbed dose
measured in Gy multiplied by a weighting factor specific to each type of
radiation and organ. Single doses are usually measured in millisievert
(mSv) or Mierosievert (µSv)
See Becquerel and Gray for comparison.
SIL Safety Integrity Level as defined in IEC 61508:2010 Functional Safety of
Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic Safety-Related Systems.
SIO Site Incident Officer
SIOI Station Item Operating Instruction
Site Licence A licence granted in respect of a particular nuclear site pursuant to the
Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
Site Licence The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended) requires HSE (through
Conditions ONR) to attach conditions to nuclear site licences. Licence conditions
define areas of nuclear safety to which a licensee should pay attention
to ensure safe operation of the site. While some conditions impose
specific duties others require the licensee to devise and implement
adequate arrangements in particular areas. The issues covered range
from arrangements for ensuring the safety of plant and for controlling
operations to management issues such as the supervision and training
of staff. Breach of a licence condition is an offence under NIA65 s.4(6).
A schedule of 35 standard conditions was incorporated into all nuclear
site licences granted between 1990 and 1999. A new licence condition,
Licence Condition 36 (LC36), was attached to all nuclear site licences at
the end of July 1999. LC36(5) came into effect on 1 August 1999 and
LC36(1)-(4) came into effect on 1 April 2000; this delay allowed time for
licensees to develop their arrangements to achieve compliance.
A high-level summary of the 36 conditions attached to a nuclear site
licence is below:
LC1 - Definitions and interpretations.
LC2 – Adequate provision to ensure that no unauthorised access to site
is allowed.
LC3 – Restricts the ability of the site licensee to deal in or dispose of
any part of the licensed site (i.e. by way of sale, assignment or leasing).
The expression “LC(3) consent” relates to the consent of the ONR
which is required before the licensee can deal in or dispose of any part
of the licensed site.
LC4 – Restricts what nuclear materials can be brought on site and their
usage.
LC5 – Restricts the destination where the site licensee can ship nuclear
materials.
LC6 – Ensures that the site licensee has adequate provision for the
management of records and documents.
LC7 – Ensures that the site licensee has adequate provision for the
notification, recording, investigation and reporting of incidents.
LC8 – Ensures that the site has adequate warning notices and that their
meaning is clear and explained.
LC9 - Ensures that every person authorised to be on the site receives
adequate instructions (to the extent that this is necessary having regard
to the circumstances of that person being on the site) as regards the
risks and hazards associated with the plant and its operation, the
precautions to be observed in connection therewith and the action to be
taken in the event of an accident or emergency on the site.
LC10 – Requires the site licensee to make and implement adequate
arrangements for suitable training for all those on site who have
responsibility for any operations which may affect safety.
LC11 – Requires the site licensee to make and implement adequate
arrangement for dealing with any accident or emergency arising on the
site and their effects.
LC12 – Ensures that the site licensee has adequate arrangements to
ensure that only suitably qualified and experienced persons perform any
duties which may affect the safety of operations.
LC13 – Ensures that the site licensee establishes a nuclear safety
committee(s).
LC14 – Ensures that the site licensee creates and maintains relevant
safety cases.
LC15 – Ensures that safety cases are regularly reviewed.
LC16 – Ensures that there are accurate site plans.
LC17 – Ensures that the site licensee has adequate management and
quality systems in place.
LC18 – Ensures that there are adequate measures in place to assess
average worker dosage.
LC19 - Where the site licensee proposes to construct or install any new
plant which may affect safety, the licensee shall make and implement
adequate arrangements to control the construction or installation.
LC20 – Ensures that no modification is made during the period of
construction to the design of the plant which may affect safety, except in
accordance with adequate arrangements made and implemented by the
site licensee for that purpose.
LC21 – Ensures that the site licensee makes and implements adequate
arrangements for the commissioning of any plant or process which may
affect safety.
LC23 – Ensures that the site licensee produces adequate safety cases
to demonstrate the safety of operation and to identify the conditions and
limits necessary in the interests of safety.
LC24 - Ensure that all operations which may affect safety are carried
out in accordance with written instructions.
LC25 - Ensures that adequate records are made of the operation,
inspection and maintenance of any plant.
LC26 - Ensures that no operations are carried out which may affect
safety except under the control and supervision of suitably qualified and
experienced persons.
LC27 - Ensures that a plant is not operated, inspected, maintained or
tested unless suitable and sufficient safety mechanisms, devices and
circuits are properly connected and in good working order.
LC28 – Ensures that adequate arrangements for the regular and
systematic examination, inspection, maintenance and testing of all plant
are in place.
LC29 – Gives the regulators the power to specify additional tests,
inspections and examinations in connection with any plant.
LC30 – Covers the need for periodic shutdown to facilitate maintenance.
LC31 – Gives the regulators the power to enforce a shutdown if they
believe it necessary.
LC32 – Minimises the radioactive waste produced by the site.
LC33 – Ensures that waste is disposed of via approved mechanisms.
LC34 – Ensures adequate provision against radioactive leakage to the
environment.
LC35 – Ensures that there is an adequate decommissioning plan.
LC36 – Ensures that the site licensee maintains adequate resources to
run the site safely.
[Link]/nuclear/[Link]
SL See Sellafield Limited.
SLC Site Licence Company: The entity that holds the nuclear site licence and
the discharge authorisations for a UK nuclear site.
Specifically in the case of sites designated the responsibility of the NDA
under the Energy Act 2004, the SLC carries out the daily management
and operations of the site under a contract (principally an M&O contract)
with the NDA.
The SLCs across the NDA's nuclear estate are as follows:
(a) Sellafield Limited (comprising Sellafield, including Calder Hall &
Windscale);
(b) Magnox Limited (comprising Berkeley, Bradwell, Chapelcross,
Dungeness A, Harwell, Hinkley Point A, Hunterston A, Sizewell
A, Trawsfynydd, Winfrith, Wylfa & Oldbury);
(c) Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (Dounreay only); and
(d) LLW Repository Limited (LLWR near Drigg only).
Note: Springfields Fuels Ltd is owned by Westinghouse and NDA have
leased the site on a long-term basis to Westinghouse. This means that
NDA retains responsibility for the historic nuclear liabilities whilst
Westinghouse undertake their fuel manufacturing business.
Capenhurst is no longer a part of Sellafield. In November 2012
Capenhurst Nuclear Services Limited (CNS), a URENCO Group
company, took ownership of the land, combining it with an adjacent site
it already owns to create one nuclear licensed site.
SLCA Site Licence Company Agreement: The contract between NDA and its
SLC following competitions (formerly M&O contracts).
SMART System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor: An evolutionary, small
integral PWR being developed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research
Institute (KAERI) along with significant support by a large group of
companies within the expanding South Korean nuclear industry.
SME 1 Small/Medium-sized Enterprise; or
2 Subject Matter Expert.
The Cabinet Office uses the EU definition for SME; a small enterprise is
a company with fewer than 50 employees and a turnover of balance
sheet total under £10m while a medium enterprise is a company with
fewer than 250 employees and a turnover or balance sheet total under
£43m.
See
[Link]
r_guide_en.pdf for the European Commission's user guide and model
declaration.
SME Action Plan Each Government department has an SME Action Plan which details
how it will support the Government’s aspiration for allocating 25% of
spend to SMEs. The NDA has its own SME Action Plan as a subset of
DECC's SME Action Plan.
SMP Sellafield MOX Plant: A plant located at Sellafield used to generate
mixed-oxide fuel.
In August 2011, the NDA announced that SMP would be closed.
SMR Small Modular Reactor: A reactor type with an output of less than 300
MWe.
SNF Spent Nuclear Fuel
SNI Sensitive Nuclear Information
SNPTC State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation: Constructor of the first
AP 1000 units being constructed in China and developer of the CAP
1400 Gen 111 plant.
SoC Scene of Crime (An incident on the Public Highway/Permanent Way
may well be declared a SoC initially).
SoDA Statement of Design Acceptability: See GDA.
SOI Statement of Intent
SoS Secretary of State
SPA A special protection area pursuant to the Habitats Directive due to its
resident or transient animal species.
Spent (depleted) Irradiated nuclear reactor fuel that has reached the end of its useful life
nuclear fuel to the extent that it can no longer effectively maintain a chain reaction
and generate sufficient heat.
Spent nuclear fuel is fuel removed from a reactor after final use. The
main commercial UK fuels are Magnox, AGR and PWR. Typically, spent
fuel is made up of approximately 96% un-reacted uranium, 1%
plutonium, and 3% waste products. The precise composition depends
largely on the type of reactor and the amount of power produced by the
fuel.
SPF / Security The Security Policy Framework (SPF) describes the standards, best
Policy Framework practice guidelines and approaches that are required to protect UK
Government assets (people, information and infrastructure).
It focuses on the outcomes that are required to achieve a proportionate
and risk managed approach to security that enables Government
business to function effectively, safely and securely.
SPIRE SPIRE is an electronic licensing system provided by the Export Control
Organisation (see ECO). It allows users to apply for export or trade
licences for activities and items that require a licence for the wide range
of "controlled" goods (such as radioactive sources, security items and
military goods, etc.).

Split Package The overall responsibility for the design and construction of the project
Contract is divided among a relatively small number of contractors, each
contractor being in charge of a large package of work.
Springfields Springfields, near Preston, has provided nuclear fuel fabrication
services since the mid-1940s. It was the first plant in the world to
produce fuel for a commercial power station. The site has witnessed
many changes over the years and today it is run, owned and operated
by Springfields Fuels Limited, under the management of Westinghouse
Electric UK Limited.
SQEP Suitably Qualified and Experienced Person(nel)
SRD Safety and Reliability Directorate
SSA 1 Strategic Siting Assessment: Part of the regulatory framework
which applies to new nuclear which is designed to determine
the suitability of potential sites for new nuclear electricity
generation (which is also required under the Habitats Directive);
or
2 Shared Services Alliance: A group of NDA and SLC commercial
directors supporting strategic supply chain initiatives and
collaborative procurement across the NDA.
SSC Structure, System, or Component
SSOW Safe System of Work: Used on some sites (e.g. Dounreay) to define
how specific tasks should be carried out, particularly those of a
hazardous nature.
SSOWs are prepared using a team approach to ensure:
(a) the plant and workplace is ready for personnel to work safely;
(b) the incorporation of risk assessment and/or safety case controls
into systems of work documents;
(c) the provision and use of safe work equipment and materials;
and
(d) the involvement of competent people engaged in:
(i) the planning and scheduling of work;
(ii) the preparation and review of documentation;
(iii) the design, application and authorisation of safety
controls, ready for formal plant release;
(iv) the safe execution of work in compliance with written
instruction; and
(v) the formal restoration of plant to its normal configuration
following work.
Stakeholder The NDA consider a stakeholder to be any person or organisation that
has a declared interest in the NDA’s work.
Statement of A requirement of the 2008 Planning Act in relation to Nationally
Community Significant Infrastructure Projects. Produced by the promoter to
Consultation determine the way they will consult with the local community prior to
(SOCC) application.
Steam Generator Vessel used to transfer heat from one medium to another. Used in
pressurised water and gas-cooled reactors to convert water into steam
using the heat produced by the reactor core. In PWRs, the heat is
supplied as the high-pressure water circulating around the reactor. In
Magnox and AGRs, the heat is supplied by the high pressure CO2 used
to remove the heat from the reactor core.
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths
STFC Science & Technology Facilities Council
Stone Report The report commissioned by John Hutton when Secretary of State for
BERR from his Senior Advisor, Tim Stone, into the (then) Nuclear
Installations Inspectorate. The report examined the NII as an
organisation (but did not look at its performance as a safety regulator)
and made recommendations on its structure, accountability, governance
and financing. The report’s recommendations were fully accepted by the
Government and led to the creation of the Office of Nuclear Regulation
as a public corporation.
Stress Tests Following the nuclear accident in Fukushima, the EU reacted swiftly and
requested that all 143 EU-based nuclear plants undergo specific safety
tests based on a common set of criteria.
The safety of the plants was to be assessed against the possibility of
both natural and man-made hazards (airplane crashes, earthquakes,
fires etc.).
These tests were carried out in 2011 and 2012. On 4 October 2012 the
European Commission released a final Communication on the results of
the stress tests. This Communication highlighted that the Commission
considers that European nuclear power plants have generally high
safety standards but further improvements are needed in almost all of
them.
Action plans have been prepared by national regulators following the
tests. These went through peer reviews in early 2013, in order to verify
that the stress test recommendations are consistently implemented
throughout the EU in a transparent way. Peer review of the National
action plans is ongoing.
Sr Strontium. A fission product of uranium-235.
Subcritical mass Fissile material of a quantity insufficient in volume or geometrically
arranged in such a way that no chain reaction can be maintained.
Supervised Area An area that has radiation and contamination present at levels below
Controlled Areas. Access to such an area is limited by the licensee or
responsible organisation.
Supply Chain See Nuclear Supply Chain.
(Nuclear)
Sv See Sievert.
SWR-1000 Also known as KERENA™, this is AREVA's 1250 Mwe generation III+
boiling water reactor design. This, along with the ATEMA1™ design is
still in the design phase. Design features include enhanced safety,
simplified operation, lower fuel requirements and the production of
smaller volumes of waste. They typically feature inherent, or "passive",
safety features which depend only on physical phenomena such as
convection, gravity or resistance to high temperatures, not on
functioning of engineered components. For the utility and vendor,
standardised design provides the scope for faster licensing, reduced
capital costs and shorter construction times.
SZB Sizewell B (Power Station) Pressurised Water Reactor operated by EDF
Energy.
Tailings Residual material left over from the processing of ore.
TBES Triple Bar Existing Sites: A set of three short courses which have been
designed with industry involvement to prepare individuals requiring
unescorted access to existing nuclear sites. The training is focused at a
fundamental level to introduce the requirements for compliance, nuclear
awareness and industry behaviours.
TBNM Triple Bar Nuclear Manufacturing: Designed specifically to support
employees in the nuclear manufacturing supply chain.
TBNNBS Triple Bar Nuclear New Build Sites: Contextualises the courses for
individuals who will specifically be working on the New Build agenda
and is ideal for construction workers to gain the knowledge they need to
work safely.
TBNS Triple Bar Nuclear Security: Designed in collaboration with the IAEA for
everyone working in, and in support of the nuclear industry, available
globally via the NTN.
TBP/OK Tri-Butyl Phosphate / Odourless Kerosene: The solvent used in the
extraction solvent part of reprocessing operations (along with nitric acid). The
kerosene simply serves to dilute the TBP.
TENORM Technically-Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials:
Naturally-occurring radioactive materials which have been concentrated
or exposed by human activities.
TEPCO The Tokyo Electric Power Company: Responsible for the maintenance
of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in
Japan. TEPCO's handling of the crisis at Fukushima has been criticised,
and the company is receiving financial support from the Japanese
Government to handle compensation claims.
TFS Trans Frontier Shipment: When waste is imported or exported from one
EU member state to another. Also under the term "International Waste
Shipments".
In England, it is the Environment Agency which is responsible for
granting approval for a TFS.
Th See Thorium.
Thermal shield This is located either within a reactor pressure vessel or between the
vessel and the biological shield. The thermal shield is comprised of
several layers of high-density material. Its function is to reduce radiation
heating in the vessel and the biological shield.
Thorium An element similar to uranium which is being considered as the basis of
an alternative fuel cycle. Thorium is globally more abundant than
uranium, but there are a range of technical and commercial factors
which need to be addressed to bring it to full scale operation, and it is
not yet clear if it will be developed to the same scale as today's uranium
fuel cycle. Thorium was/is the principle element that makes gas
mantles radiate light when heated by a high-temperature gas flame. A
gas mantle, in operation, is a mesh of thorium oxide.
THORP Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant, located at Sellafield. This plant
reprocesses spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors and separates the
uranium and plutonium, which can be reused in mixed oxide fuel, from
the radioactive wastes, which are treated and stored at the plant.
Construction of THORP started in the 1970s, and was completed in
1994. The plant went into operation in August 1997.
Threat The process of analysing the security risks to nuclear facilities and
Assessment material on a national and international basis.
Tier contractors Tier I contractors: A term used to refer to the PBO/SLC on an NDA site
(or the senior "work stream" contractors in new build).
Tier 2 contractors: These contractors are the main interface with the
Tier 1 companies. They hold a direct contract with the Tier 1
companies, which can include, for example, the supply of services on
the licensed site.
Tier 3 & 4 contractors: These are often SMEs who generally contract
with Tier 2 contractors in support of the Tier 2's contract with Tier 1.
TiiMS The Incident Information Management System
TLD Thermo Luminescent Dosimeter
TLM Through-Life Management Plan
Tolerable Risk The level of risk defined as "tolerable" in the Health and Safety
Executive guidance document "The Tolerability of Risk from Nuclear
Power Stations", 1988 as amended in 1992.
TOR Torness (Power Station) AGR power station operated by EDF Energy.
Toshiba Toshiba Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate
Corporation corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Toshiba acquired
Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) in 2006.
Transboundary An assessment of the impact of a development on the environment of
EIA other EU member states under Regulation 24 of the EIA Regs.
Trans-uranics Elements higher than uranium in the Periodic Table. Many waste
products from nuclear fission are trans-uranics. All these elements are
unstable and radioactive. The highest element currently known is
ununoctium (Uuo) and has an atomic number of 118.
Tritium An isotope of hydrogen with mass number 3, i.e. it contains two
neutrons as well as one proton. It is radioactive with beta decay to
Helium-3. Part of the fuel to be used in the ITER fusion reactor (in
which it will be fused with Deuterium). This fusion reaction has been
extensively studied at the JET facility in Culham, Oxfordshire. Tritium is
also a waste product from the irradiation of water under certain specific
conditions. Also used in certain luminous tubes.
TRU Used as an abbreviation for Transuranics.
TSC 1 Technical Support Company(ies)
2 Transport Safety Case
Turnkey Contract A single contractor or consortium of contractors assumes overall
(procurement responsibility for completing all parts and all phases of the project
structure) design and construction and assumes the majority of key project risks.
TUSNE Trade Unionists for Safe Nuclear Energy is an informal grouping of
trade unionists who are supportive of the use of civil nuclear energy
within a balanced energy policy and a safe and clean environment. The
organisation's executive committee is made up of senior officials from
the major trade unions within the electricity supply industry. TUSNE's
main mission is to provide a forum for debate about energy issues, and
regularly attends trade union and political conferences throughout the
UK.
TW Terawatt, being one trillion Watts.
UHF Ultra High Frequency (Radio)
UK Inventory The 2010 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory compiled and published
jointly by the NDA and DECC.
UKAEA United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority: UKAEA is a Non-
Departmental Government Body which has a historical role in Nuclear
Research. It conducted pioneering research into Nuclear Energy
between the 1940s and 1960s. UKAEA manages the nuclear research
programme and Fusion Research in the UK (Joint European Torus
(JET) at Culham). JET is the only facility in the world to have created
sustained nuclear fusion – the current record is around 20 seconds.
Many of UKAEA’s historic assets and liabilities have been transferred to
the NDA, among other entities, pursuant to nuclear transfer schemes
under the Energy Act 2004.
UKAEA Combined An unfunded, Government-backed pension scheme restricted to
Pension Scheme members of the public sector which is maintained by UKAEA under
paragraph 7(2)(b) of Schedule 1 of the Atomic Energy Authority Act
1954.
UKTI United Kingdom Trade & Investment: Works with UK-based businesses
to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best
overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.
UKTI offers services to British based firms wanting to gain access to
global markets through export, and foreign based firms wanting to use
Britain as a base to expand globally.
Uranics The UK has significant quantities of materials containing uranium
(commonly known as uranics). This uranic material can be generally
considered as one of five main types:
(a) "Tails" depleted uranium (uranium hexafluoride, known as hex
tails);
(b) "Magnox reactor" depleted uranium (uranium trioxide, and
known as MDU);
(c) "THORP" uranium product (uranium trioxide);
(d) natural uranium (stored in many forms, such as uranium metal);
and
(e) highly enriched uranium (in many forms, known as HEU).
Uranium The heaviest known naturally-occurring element, consisting of two
isotopes: uranium-235, which undergoes fission, and uranium-238
which does not. Heaver elements are known collectively as Trans-
uranics and are all naturally unstable and decay radioactively.
URENCO One of four major uranium enrichment suppliers, this company supplies
fuel for nuclear power utilities worldwide. URENCO UK is based in
Capenhurst, near Chester in the north west of England. At the
Capenhurst site, URENCO operates three plants producing enriched
uranium (the biggest of which, E23, houses more than 80% of the site's
enrichment capacity), and employs 300 people.
USDoE US Department of Energy (also known simply as DoE)
Vetting Putting someone through the security clearance process.
Vienna Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage 1997 as
Convention amended
Vital Areas An area within a Nuclear Licensed Site which contains nuclear material
the compromise of which could lead to serious consequences. Usually
guarded by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
Vitrification Process used to solidify concentrated solutions of fission products
separated during spent fuel reprocessing by mixing them with a glass
matrix at high temperature. The fission products are generally metal
oxides at the point of embedding in the glass.
VLLW Very Low Level Waste: A sub-category of LLW with low radioactive
properties such that it can be disposed of to an unspecified destination
with other municipal, commercial or industrial wastes.
Voluntarism In terms of current nuclear issues, a voluntary expression, by a local
community, of an interest to host an underground nuclear waste facility
in return for a package of on-going incentives provided by the
NDA/Government. Throughout the cooperative process the needs and
concerns of the potential host community are addressed, with the aim of
creating a mutually beneficial working partnership between host
community and the NDA/Government.
VTR Vitrification Test Rig: A facility at Sellafield operated by NNL as an
inactive plant for testing developments and improvements to the main
Sellafield vitrification lines.
VVER Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky Reactor / Water-Water Energetic
Reactor: A pressurised water reactor designed and utilised throughout
the Soviet Union states, and currently utilised in Russian NPPs.
WANO World Association of Nuclear Operators: An organisation created to
improve safety at every nuclear power plant in the world. After the
accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, nuclear
operators world-wide realised that the consequences had an effect on
every nuclear power plant and international cooperation was needed to
ensure that such an accident can never happen again.
WANO was formed in May 1989 by nuclear operators world-wide uniting
to exchange operating experience in a culture of openness, so
members can work together to achieve the highest possible standards
of nuclear safety. The culture of openness allows each operator to
benefit and learn from others’ experiences, challenges and best
practice, with the ultimate goal of improving nuclear plant safety,
reliability and performance levels for the benefit of their customers
throughout the world.
Waste By-products of nuclear power generation and other applications of
nuclear fission or nuclear technology, such as research and medicine.
Radioactive waste is hazardous to most forms of life and the
environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to
protect human health and the environment.
Waste Conditions which must be met before radioactive waste is accepted at a
Acceptance Repository. Describe the nature, form, physical, chemical, radiological
Criteria (WAC) characteristics that can be accepted for onward management and
disposal by a waste management operator or waste management site.
Waste container A vessel used for the purposes of containing a wasteform for disposal.
Waste Framework European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/98/EC of 19
Directive November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives.
Waste The process of managing, treating and storing radioactive waste
Management pending its final disposal.
Waste package The total waste product including the waste, wasteform and the waste
container.
Wasteform Waste which is in the final chemical and physical form in which it will be
disposed of (but excluding the waste container and any capping
material).
Water Discharge A permit to discharge water into a watercourse or the sea issued by the
Activity Permit EA under Schedule 21 of the Environmental Permitting (England and
Wales) Regulations 2010 as amended. One of the operational permits
required if cooling water is discharged into the sea during the operation
of a nuclear power station.
Watt A unit of energy. A watt is the power of one amp of current flowing with
a potential difference of one volt. A power of one watt acting for one
second is one Joule of energy and would raise the temperature of one
gram of water by approximately 0.24°C.
WEC 1 Westinghouse Electric Company (see Westinghouse)
2 World Energy Council
Weightman (Final) Following the Fukushima incident and publication of his Interim Report,
Report the UK’s Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, Dr Mike Weightman,
published a final report in September 2011 on the implications for the
UK nuclear industry of the events in Japan. The report concludes that
there are no fundamental weaknesses in the UK nuclear licensing
regime or safety assessment principles, and that the UK practice of
periodic safety reviews of licensed sites provides a robust means of
ensuring continuous improvement in line with advances in technology
and standards. However, it highlights the need to continue
decommissioning former nuclear sites with vigour.
Weightman Following the Fukushima incident, the UK’s Chief Inspector of Nuclear
(Interim) Report Installations, Dr Mike Weightman, published a report in May 2011 which
concludes there is no need to curtail the operations of nuclear plants in
the UK, but that lessons should be learnt from the events in Japan.
The report identifies 25 recommended areas for review - by either
industry, the Government or regulators - to determine if sensible and
appropriate measures can further improve safety in the UK nuclear
industry. These include reviews of the layout of UK power plants,
emergency response arrangements, dealing with prolonged loss of
power supplies and the risks associated with flooding.
This report was followed by a Final Report published in September 2011
(see Weightman (Final) Report).
West Lakes The urban regeneration company for Furness and West Cumbria. West
Renaissance Lakes Renaissance attempted to turn around the economy of this area
which has and still is suffering from industrial decline, resulting in out-
migration (particularly of young people), unemployment and a worn-out
infrastructure. Now replaced by Britain’s Energy Coast.
Westinghouse The designer/manufacturer of the AP1000 nuclear reactor, one of the
three designs included within the GDA. It provides fuel, services,
technology, plant design and equipment to utility and industrial
customers in the worldwide commercial nuclear electric power industry.
It has a 150 year contract with the NDA for the management of the
Springfields site. Westinghouse was sold by BNFL to Toshiba in 2006.
In January 2014, Toshiba Westinghouse agreed to buy 60 percent of
the NuGen UK nuclear joint venture between GDF Suez and Iberdrola
for 102 million pounds, boosting Britain's plans to replace its ageing
nuclear fleet. Toshiba's Westinghouse unit will provide three of its
AP1000 nuclear reactors, with a combined capacity of 3,400 megawatts
(MW), for construction on the NuGen Moorside nuclear site.
Wet Storage Storage of spent fuel in a pond filled with water.
WG Welsh Government: WG is facilitating and supporting development of
Wylfa Newydd (see WG's "Towards a Low Carbon Future", March 2012)
and is responsible for developing skills and education agenda in Wales
and supporting Welsh supply chain to take advantage of opportunities in
nuclear industry - new build, operations and maintenance, and
decommissioning.
WIN Women in Nuclear: Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global) is a world-
wide non-profit making association of women working professionally in
various fields of nuclear energy and radiation applications.
WINS World Institute of Nuclear Security
WNTI World Nuclear Transport Institute
WRAT Waste Requiring Additional Treatment
Wylfa Newydd The new build nuclear power station to be constructed by Horizon
Nuclear Power near the site of the current Wylfa A nuclear plant in
Anglesey, North Wales. Previously known as "Wylfa B".
X-ray A discrete quantity of electromagnetic energy without mass or charge.
Emitted by an x-ray machine. See gamma ray.
Xe. Xenon. A fission product of uranium-235.
Yellowcake Yellowcake is the product of the uranium extraction (milling) process;
early production methods resulted in a bright yellow compound, hence
the name yellowcake. Yellowcake is commonly referred to as U3O8.
This fine powder is packaged in drums and sent to a conversion plant
that produces uranium hexafluoride (UF6) as the next step in the
manufacture of nuclear fuel.
YGN The Young Generation Network (YGN) is a group created by the
Nuclear Institute (NI) to offer the younger members (of the NI the
opportunity to further their knowledge and facilitate networking between
generations. It assists career progression and provides a resource for
the future of the industry.
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