services to the federal nuclear sector -...

Services to the federal nuclear sector

2 | Services to the federal nuclear sector Services to the federal nuclear sector | 3

Established in 1938, Atkins has become one of the world’s largest international design and engineering consulting firms, with offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Our experience across multiple sectors allows us to deliver the best, most up-to-date technical solutions to our clients by sharing expertise and knowledge on a worldwide scale.

At the same time, Atkins understands the importance of being local— of having deep roots in the communities in which we live and work. In the United States, our experience dates back more than half a century and our network of 300 offices spans the nation. Our understanding of local requirements, practices, and culture has allowed us to become a valued partner to our clients.

With more than 17,500 staff operating across the globe, including over 3,500 staff in North America, we plan, design, and enable some of the most challenging and time critical projects. This is why we were chosen

as architect engineer for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which is expected to be the world’s largest and most advanced experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor.

In 2014 Atkins acquired Nuclear Safety Associates, the US nuclear industry’s foremost authority for nuclear safety, regulatory compliance and licensing.

Atkins is:

• The world’s 14th largest global design firm (ENR 2013)

• Ranked as one of the top 10 firms in the United States (ENR 2013)

• The third largest engineering and architectural consultancy in Europe (Svenska Teknik & Designföretagen Sector Review 2013)

• One of the top 10 firms in the Middle East (ENR 2013)

• The UK’s largest engineering consultancy for the last 15 years (NCE Consultants File 2013).

Atkins: world-class engineering

“Engineering is an exciting way of life, always with new wheels to discover rather than invent, whether in creation or design.”Sir William Atkins


Reacting first

Our nuclear business has been operating in the industry since the inception of nuclear energy for the production of electricity more than 50 years ago. Today, our talent-rich teams work closely with our clients, to maintain the existing nuclear infrastructure, engineer new plants and safely decommission facilities that have reached the end of their operating life.

Our experience embraces the regulatory regimes of the US and the UK, giving us an appreciation of the different regulatory approaches in those two countries. In the US, this includes Department of Energy (DOE) reactor and non-reactor nuclear facilities, as well as Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)-licensed fuel cycle and isotope production facilities and power reactors. In the new build market we have extensive knowledge of the legislative and regulatory framework required to develop new nuclear.

As a leading civil, structural and infrastructure design house we’re able to mobilize large multidisciplinary design teams to strengthen our retained regional expertise. Overall, we design and engineer solutions for the entire nuclear facility lifecycle across the US.

Iconic projects spanning 60 years in nuclear

1954 20101994 2014Berkeley nuclear power station, UK

International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), France

Windscale Piles decommissioning, UK

Silo Direct-encapsulation Plant (SDP), Sellafield, UK

Services to the federal nuclear sector | 7Our track record

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s

1954Atkins undertakes the detailed architectural, civil and structural design for new Berkeley nuclear power station (UK)

1958 Atkins plans and designs a complete nuclear research centre for the Italian committee for Nuclear Research

1971Atkins Structural Analysis System (ASAS) is used to check the Dounreay (UK) reactor roof

1960Atkins designs and makes recommendations for a complete line of nuclear reactor fuel element cells in Japan

1970Ko-Ri Nuclear power station, Korea: Atkins and Wimpey & Co carry out design of the auxiliary hall, turbine hall, the administration building and the foundations for the high voltage switch gear

1976Atkins collaborates with Associated Nuclear Services (ANS) in the structural support of the magnetic coils for a 2000 MW(e) Tokamak reactor

1982Atkins undertakes the complete design and specification of the BNFL recovery plant for Springfields (UK)

1985Atkins now counts virtually all nuclear power organizations in the UK as clients

1986Allot Atkins Mouchel Power Consultants Limited secures preparatory civil work for Hinkley PWR station (UK)

1990s 2000s 2010s

1994Atkins is appointed as managing agent of the phase one decommissioning of Windscale Piles (UK)

1991Acquisition of the specialist nuclear consultancy ANS (a company comprising Atkins, Ewbank Preece, Merz & Mclellan)

2000Superheater headers project for Magnox

2008Atkins is awarded a contract to continue as a Tier 1 supplier to EDF Energy under its Technical Services Alliance (TSA)

2008 – 2009Completed a full Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA), for the International Isotopes Fluorine Products (IIFP) depleted uranium deconversion facility. The first licensed source material facility in the U.S. to implement an ISA consistent with Part 70, Subpart H of NRC regulations.

2010Atkins is appointed as architect engineer for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

2011Atkins is appointed as lender’s technical advisor to the UAE’s peaceful nuclear programme

2011Atkins supports EDF Energy to improve the resilience of UK nuclear power stations following the Japanese earthquake

2010 – 2011Completed the Document Safety Analysis under 10CFR830 for the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) at Idaho National Laboratory.

2013Atkins is formally announced as part of the EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Strategic Partnership in the UK

2014Atkins is selected as Strategic partner for all of URENCO’s project and programme delivery in the UK

2014Silo-Direct encapsulation Plant (SDP), Sellafield – for the UK Nuclear Decommisioning Authority

1959 Atkins is engaged in seven nuclear projects, including work on Merlin, a 5MW research reactor produced by AEI/John Thompson Nuclear Energy Company – the first privately owned reactor to be built by the commonwealth

1995Atkins conducts seismic assessments of the Magnox and AGR reactor cores (UK)

1997Atkins carries out environmental impact study of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power station

1998TACIS Procurement Agent Contract associated with decommissioning the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Services to the federal nuclear sector | 98 | Services to the federal nuclear sector

Intelligent nuclear infrastructure

Nuclear safety and specialty analysis

Project cost and

commercial management

Environment and waste

management

Nuclear infrastructure

Multidiscipline engineering

Professional security services

Readiness and startup engineering

Our nuclear skills

We take pride in the technical excellence of everything we do. Whether it’s the analysis of reactor components or the assessment of the ecological impact of new facilities, our engineers and scientists excel.

At Atkins, we believe that our people can improve lives through serving the nuclear industry by playing a fundamental role in managing waste, using their skills to ensure safety and security and to construct new nuclear facilities. Our talented engineers design and develop solutions that are groundbreaking and can improve the quality of life for us all. Ultimately, we believe that when you bring brilliant people together, they will do brilliant things.

Atkins plans, designs and enables some of the world’s greatest engineering projects. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Atlanta International Airport, USA, and the Burj Al Arab in the UAE exemplify Atkins’ ability to deliver stellar engineering solutions on time. Backed by this experience, our nuclear business focuses on six key skill areas to provide a unique combination of specialist nuclear skills and more traditional engineering and project management skills to our clients.

“We are at our best when the absence of an accepted code, standard or analogue means innovation and original thinking must come to the fore.”Martin Grant, CEO Energy, Atkins


Our nuclear skills Nuclear Safety, Licensing, Safeguards & Security Operation & Readiness

Nuclear Safety & Speciality Analysis

• Nuclear site licensing• Regulatory support• Criticality safety • Nuclear facility safety• Integrated safety analysis• Radiation protection and

shielding• Reactor safety• Probabilistic risk/safety

analysis and reliability assessment of process/equipment

• Chemical safety• Fire and industrial safety

hazard assessment• Fire protection

engineering • Risk and consequence

analysis• Health physics/radiological

protection• Human performance

assessment

Professional Security Services

• Security program development and implementation

• Personnel security• Information security• Cyber security• Classification and export

control• Security risk assessment • Security and awareness

training• Physical security feature

specification and start-up• Vulnerability assessments• Nuclear materials control

and accountability

Readiness and Startup Engineering

• Systems engineering• Readiness assist teams• Readiness reviews• Facility start-up• Procedure development

and implementation• Implementation validation

reviews• Operational readiness

reviews• Emergency planning and

response• Audits and inspections • Logistics and inventory

management

Our nuclear skills Project, Cost & Commercial Management’

Commercial Management

• Cost management• Estimating• Cost planning• Procurement• Quantity surveying• Cost engineering• Procurement engineering• Commercial grade dedication

Cost Management

• Private finance initiative• Contracts consultancy• Dispute management• Development consultancy• Risk and value management• Capital tax allowances• Expert witness• Strategic asset management• Life-cycle costing• Sustainability

Project Management

• Project management• Employer’s agent• Scheduling• Building surveying• Health and safety• Portfolio optimization

(financial/asset/resource)• Program and project

assurance• Program and project delivery

management (delivered client-side or as a managed service)

• PMO (delivered client-side or as a managed service)

• Enterprise solutions including Primavera implementation

• NQA-1 quality program development and implementation

• Training design, development, and delivery

• Operating experience management

• World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) peer review support

• Operations surveillance management

• In-service inspection (ISI) and quality surveillance (QS) program management


Radiological Assessments

• Aerial dispersion modeling• Aquatic dispersion • Groundwater monitoring• Screening tools• Dose assessment (humans)• Dose assessment (non-

humans)• PC CREAM software• ALARA programs and

plans

Radioactive Waste Management

• Waste disposal/screening• Integrated waste strategy• Radioactive waste

management• Waste characterization• Material performance• Material chemistry

Environmental Assessment & Permitting

• Air/noise quality management

• Archeological and architectural resource surveys and studies

• Ecological surveys• Environmental permitting

and compliance• Environmental studies and

management• Federal, state, and local

agency consultation/coordination

• Information solutions and GIS

• Water quality modeling/studies

• Water rights permitting• Hurricane storm surge

modeling• Impingement/entrainment

studies• Baseline and impact

evaluation• Biological and

construction monitoring• Cooling reservoir

modeling• Cultural resource

Our nuclear skills Environment & Waste Management

surveys and National Historic Preservation Act compliance

• Ecological risk assessment• Ecosystem and habitat

restoration• Endangered Species Act

(ESA) coordination• Federal (Clean Water Act,

Section 404) and state wetland delineation, permitting and mitigation

• Instream flow and other aquatic studies

• Mitigation planning and implementation

• NEPA compliance• Site constraints and due

diligence studies• Species surveys and

habitat assessments• Water quality monitoring• Watershed management

planning

Our nuclear skills Multidiscipline Engineering

Mechanical

• Engineering design• Mechanical design• Hydraulic design• Electromechanical design• Mechanical assessment• Design of remote handling

equipment• Specification of EOT

cranes• Reverse engineering• FOAK custom equipment

Process

• Process design (conceptual and detailed)

• Piping systems and valves• Process control and

instrumentation• Materials of construction• Equipment selection and

specification• Mechanical design vessels

and piping• Waste management• Process safety• Active HVAC design• Testing and

commissioning

Civil & Structural

• Civil structural design• Structural assessment• Structural dynamics• Structural materials• Foundations and

geotechnical engineering• Structural inspection and

appraisal• Seismic analysis and

design• Drainage• Highways and bridges• Flood assessment

Electrical Control & Instrumentation

• Power systems design, high voltage

• Power systems design, low voltage

• Field instrumentation and valves

• Programmable systems (PLC, SCADA, DCS)

• Hardwired systems (relays, solid state)

• Layer of protection analysis (LOPA)/SIL assessment and reliability

• Equipment validation• EMC/RFI grounding• Field activities

Multinational reach, local knowledge

Atkins is a global company with offices in 26 countries worldwide.The diversity of the countries in which we operate means we focus on delivery at a local level, working with local clients, but leveraging the full strength of Atkins’ skills across the globe.

Atkins offices

9,375People employed in the United Kingdom

3,500People employed in North America

1,979People employed in the Middle East

2,055People employed in Asia Pacific and Europe


Our projects: USA

From our role on one of the first generation of nuclear reactors, to our current work in exploring options for safe, limitless and environmentally responsible energy sources, our people have applied their technical expertise to some of the world’s most challenging projects.

Nuclear Safety Engineering, Las Vegas, Nevada

Site: Nevada National Security Site

As a first tier subcontractor, our role is to lead nuclear safety and risk analysis activities at the site including development of process hazards and accident analyses, and the development, review, implementation and maintenance of Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) and Technical Safety Requirements (TSR) documentation for the site facilities.

We are also responsible for training, monitoring, operational readiness assessments and startup activities as well as nuclear criticality, Unreviewed Safety Question Program (USQ) and nuclear operations support functions.

Nuclear Safety Engineering, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Site: Idaho National Laboratory

We have provided nuclear safety engineering support to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for more than six years. Our responsibilities include nuclear safety and risk analysis support activities including development of process hazards and accident analyses, implementation of safety documentation, operational readiness, readiness assessments and start-up.

Our nuclear safety engineers have developed DSA, TSR and supporting documentation for several INL facilities and treatment processes including the DSA under 10CFR830 for the Hot Fuel Examination Facility, a one-of-a-kind DOE facility handling irradiated commercial and DOE fuels, and other Materials and Fuels Complex facilities including the Fuel Conditioning Facility, the Neutron Radiography Reactor Facility, the Remote-Handled Low-Level Waste Disposal Project, the Remote Analytical Laboratory, the Radioactive Scrap and Waste Facility, the Transient Reactor Test Facility, the Space and Security Power System Facility, the SNL Sodium Debris Treatment Process, the Remote Treatment Project Facility, and the safety basis upgrades for the Advanced Test Reactor, Advanced Test Reactor Critical Facility, and the Nuclear Material and Inspection Facility.

Nuclear Engineering, Project Management and Nuclear Safety Engineering Support, Nuclear Fuel Services Facility, Erwin, Tennessee

Client: Nuclear Fuel Services

Since 2001, we have provided project management, engineering and safety support services to NFS’s Erwin, TN facility providing professional engineering services in nuclear criticality safety, radiological and chemical consequence analysis, integrated safety analysis, radiological engineering, health physics, and human performance.

We were a key contributor in preparing the facility’s integrated safety analysis documentation in compliance with Subpart H of 10CFR70. Our engineers supported the criticality safety department during design, licensing and startup of three key uranium processing facilities including the Oxide Conversion Facility (LEU), the large-scale HEU/LEU blend down operation (BLEU Prep Facility) and the highly enriched uranium Navy Fuel Manufacturing Facility (NFMF). The effort for the NFMF included an Integrated Safety Analysis for each system and process within the facility which led to the first license approved by NRC implementing 10CFR70 Subpart H (Integrated Safety Requirements) and successful facility operation.

Services to the federal nuclear sector | 1918 | Services to the federal nuclear sector

Nuclear Safety Engineering, Readiness and Operations Support, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Site: National Nuclear Security Administration Y-12

We have been working at Y-12 since 2008 supporting the prime contractor’s Safety Analysis Engineering, Readiness Assurance, and Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) Project organizations. We completed many independent reviews of safety basis documentation, developed and implemented performance improvement initiatives for safety, provided procedural support, developed Documented Safety Analysis (DSA), Safety Analysis Reports (SAR)s, Technical Safety Requirements (TSR)s, Unreviewed Safety Question Determinations(USQD)s, and Design Analysis Calculations, and prepared and reviewed nuclear criticality safety documents.

Our readiness leaders have led or supported over 50 startups and restarts at Y-12 and have developed and provided readiness training for readiness support personnel, operational safety boards, facility operations managers, production managers, and shift technical advisors. Our nuclear engineers have contributed to the success of several important Y-12 projects and in meeting key performance-based incentive milestones.

Our projects: USA

“It was a pleasure working with such a dedicated, technically outstanding, group of people equally dedicated to our success.”Richard Vann Bynum, Chief operating officer, SHINE Medical Technologies


Our projects: UK

Sellafield Legacy Ponds and Silos

Client: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)

The £300 million Legacy Ponds and Silos Project at Sellafield includes the refurbishment, retrieval of waste and clean-up of the most challenging legacy facilities in the UK.

Atkins is delivering the work through the ACKtiv Nuclear Joint Venture, alongside Jacobs and Carillion. At the heart of these projects is the decommissioning of the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond and the processing of the subsequent wastes.

Atkins engineers have to-date delivered the multi-disciplinary design and associated safety justification for five separate projects:

• Ponds Alliance

• Export Facility

• Sludge Processing Plant Project

• Retrievals Project

• Isolation and Risk Reduction Project

AWE Orion

Client: AWE

The Orion project at AWE is a new laser facility for research into high energy plasma physics with a petawatt laser array.

Atkins undertook the conceptual design of the facility including:

• Architectural design

• Civil & structural engineering

• Building services design

In addition, Atkins assisted in:

• Obtaining planning permission

• Producing the safety case for the new facility

• Development of detailed performance specifications

Continuing support

Atkins continued to support AWE in the:

• Administration of the build contract

• Assessment of detailed designs

• Overseeing construction and commissioning activities

Berkeley MiniStores ILW management project

Client: Magnox Ltd

Since 2009 Atkins has provided a multidiscipline team to Magnox to help enhance their on-site technical capability and review the design and implementation of MiniStores at Berkeley Site.

Initially the project included reviewing the original Life Time Plan (LTP) scope for Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW) management in the four main Berkeley facilities:

• Shielded Area (SA)

• Caesium Removal Plant (CRP)

• Active Waste Vaults Retrievals (AWVR)

• ILW Store (ILWS)

Following this early involvement Atkins has continued to play a constant role in the development of the Berkeley ILW Projects. This has involved Atkins engineers fulfilling the key client roles within Magnox, including the detailed technical review and acceptance of contractor’s detailed designs whilst being instrumental in the development of the engineering strategy. Further to this, an Atkins ‘reach-back’ team has continuously been involved in providing Magnox with both traditional design based consultancy services and technical expertise when required.

This support has covered a wide spectrum of skills and expertise including: civil, mechanical (both handling and M&E), environmental, process, electrical, control and instrumentation, town and country planning, radiological assessment and specialist fire advice.

Windscale Piles decommissioning managing agent

Client: UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)

Atkins was awarded the Managing Agency contract for the Phase 1 decommissioning of the Windscale Piles located in north west England. The facility had operated under a care and maintenance regime since 1957, until Atkins was awarded the contract.

The contract comprised the planning, design and enabling of a five year decommissioning programme. This involved developing and implementing the strategy for the decommissioning of both Pile 1 and Pile 2. The strategy concluded that Pile 1 should be the subject of characterization surveys and studies, whilst early decommissioning of Pile 2 would give valuable lessons to be applied later to Pile 1.

The strategy was delivered through a series of sub contracts managed by Atkins for the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and operating of a variety of decommissioning plant and equipment. The programme included a number of remotely operated machines for clearing fuel, debris and sludge from the water ducts and air ducts. These operated in both air and underwater and successfully cleared both ducts allowing the drain down of the water ducts to remove the significant risk of leakage from the reinforced concrete duct structures.

“Atkins is as close as a business supplier can be to being part of our business. Our goals are their goals also.”Dave Kendall, Deputy Head of Engineering, EDF Energy


Quietly doing brilliant things

People define our culture and we are widely noted for the high caliber of our technical professionals. Our people add value to the nuclear industry by combining their specialist nuclear skills with the unrivaled breadth and depth of technical knowledge from around the company. The leverage of these ‘cross-industry’ skills sets us apart from many of the traditional nuclear specialist providers around the world.

Each year we invest heavily in the development of our people. Our dedicated Atkins Training Academy (ATA) provides professional training and is recognized in the industry through the UK New Engineering Foundation (NEF) accreditation. Our Technical Careers Framework sets out clear roles and responsibilities for all of our people, from engineers to project managers, allowing us to better support their individual professional development and help them to realize their career aspirations.

Image credits EDF sites pg 6, 7 © EDF Energy ITER pg 3, 4, 7 © ITER Organization Magnox sites pg 7,13, 20 © Magnox Ltd Sellafield sites Pg 4, 5, 7,12, 20 © Sellafield Ltd Pg 3 © Idaho National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pg 6 Merlin © AEI 1959, pg 6 Springfields © Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Pg 16 © NSSA, Pg 17 © Idaho National Laboratory / Wikicommons and NSSA, Pg 18 © Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Pg 19 © Randy Montoyo, Pg 21 © Shutterstock.

© Atkins Limited except where stated otherwise.

The Atkins logo, ‘Carbon Critical Design’ and the strapline ‘Plan Design Enable’ are trademarks of Atkins Limited.

Nigel Thornton Director, Energy

5200 Seventy-Seven Center Drive Suite 500 Charlotte NC 28217 USA

Office: +1 704 522 7275 Cell: +1 832 247 3330 Email: [email protected]

www.atkinsglobal.com

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