Independent Peer Review of - Low Level Waste Repository Ltd

Peer Review of LLWR Response to S9R2LLWR_2008-8-2Version 1cases, and has stated that such peer reviews should be fully documentedand provided to the EA (Environment Agency 2005a; EnvironmentAgency et al. 1997; 2008).7. In its review of the 2002 safety cases (Environment Agency, 2005a), theEA acknowledged that the previous operator, BNFL, had commissionedan independent peer review (Hill and Irvine 2002), but considered that thishad been done at too a late stage in the development of the safety casesand that, as a result, not all of the peer review comments had beenaddressed adequately when the safety cases were submitted. The EA,therefore, emphasised in its review the need for peer review to begin at anearly stage in the project and to be an active and continuous part of workleading to revision of the safety case.8. Fully recognising the need for peer review, the SLC has established a newindependent peer review panel, which is made up of six highly-qualifiedsenior specialists (Appendix 1). The peer review panel members wereselected by the SLC during early 2007, and collectively have considerableexpertise and experience in radioactive and conventional wastemanagement, and in environmental management more generally. Thepeer reviewers also have specific and detailed knowledge of the LLWRsite and facility. Importantly, the peer review panel members arecompletely independent of the team working on behalf of the SLC todevelop responses to the Schedule 9 requirements, including the safetycases.9. The remit of the peer review panel extends across the whole of theLifetime Programme and the Modular Vaults Project (MVP), whichincludes work on the design of the LLWR. The overall objectives of thepeer review panel are to:Provide timely independent review of key technical approaches,arguments, designs, assessments and safety cases being developedby the SLC’s project team.Work in such a way that it can be demonstrated to relevantstakeholders that a rigorous and effective process of review andscrutiny is operating.10. The peer review work is focusing on issues that are the most important tothe risks associated with the LLWR, and is assessing and commenting onwhether the work of the Lifetime Programme and Modular Vaults Projectare consistent with policy, regulation and best practice, so as to identifyareas where improvements may be made.TerraSalus Limited 2 2 September 2008