The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issues regulatory guides to describe and make available to the public methods that the NRC staff considers acceptable

for use in implementing specific parts of the agency’s regulations, techniques that the staff uses in evaluating specific problems or postulated accidents, and data that the

staff need in reviewing applications for permits and licenses. Regulatory guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance with them is not required. Methods and

solutions that differ from those set forth in regulatory guides will be deemed acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings required for the issuance or continuance of

a permit or license by the Commission.

This guide was issued after consideration of comments received from the public. The NRC staff encourages and welcomes comments and suggestions in connection with

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as appropriate, to accommodate comments and to reflect new information or experience. Written comments may be submitted to the Rules and Directives Branch,

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Regulatory guides are issued in 10 broad divisions: 1, Power Reactors; 2, Research and Test Reactors; 3, Fuels and Materials Facilities; 4, Environmental and Siting;

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that the agency can complete security reviews of publicly available documents and remove potentially sensitive information. Please check the NRC’s Web site for updates

concerning the resumption of public access to ADAMS.

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION February 2005

REGULATORY GUIDE

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH

REGULATORY GUIDE 1.202

(Draft was issued as DG-1085, dated November 2001)

STANDARD FORMAT AND CONTENT

OF DECOMMISSIONING COST ESTIMATES

FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS

A. INTRODUCTION

Decommissioning means permanently removing a nuclear facility from service and reducing radioactive

material on the licensed site to levels that would permit termination of the license issued by the U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC amended its regulations on decommissioning procedures that lead

to termination of an operating license for nuclear power reactors, as specified in Title 10, Section 50.82,

of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.82). The amended regulations became effective on July 29, 1996. 

This rulemaking included changes to 10 CFR Part 2, “Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings

and Issuance of Orders”; Part 50, “Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities”; and Part 51,

“Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions.” Among other

relevant topics, these regulations contain requirements related to submission of decommissioning cost estimates. 

The purpose of this regulatory guide is to provide licensees with guidance on a method that the NRC staff finds

acceptable for use in preparing the following required cost estimates as specified in the regulations:

• The preliminary decommissioning cost estimate (hereinafter referred to as the preliminary cost estimate)

is to be submitted at or about 5 years prior to the projected end of operations [10 CFR 50.75(f)(2)].

• The expected cost estimate contained in the Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR)

is required to be submitted (with the PSDAR) prior to or within 2 years of permanent cessation

of operations [10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i)].
1.202-2

• The site-specific decommissioning cost estimate is to be submitted within 2 years following

permanent cessation of operations [10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii)].

• The updated site-specific cost estimate for remaining decommissioning activities is to be

included in the License Termination Plan (LTP), which must be submitted at least 2 years

before termination of the license [10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(ii)(F)].

The NRC staff suggests that licensees use the standard format described in this regulatory guide

to facilitate preparation and NRC review of the required cost estimates.

This regulatory guide applies only to power reactor licensees. The regulations for non-power

reactor licensees are given in 10 CFR 50.82(b).

The 1996 amendment to the NRC’s regulations on decommissioning procedures requires

that power reactor licensees who were engaged in decommissioning at the time the regulation

became effective must convert to, and comply with, the amended regulation. All power reactor licensees

are required to comply with the decommissioning procedures specified in these regulations,

and no “grandfathering” considerations are applicable.

The NRC’s decommissioning regulations address the minimum decommissioning funding

requirements necessary to achieve termination of the license issued under 10 CFR Part 50. The NRC’s

definition of decommissioning does not include other activities related to facility deactivation

and site closure, including operation of the spent fuel storage pool, construction and/or operation

of an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI), demolition of decontaminated structures,

and/or site restoration activities after residual radioactivity has been removed. Accordingly,

this regulatory guide does not address such “non-NRC decommissioning costs”; nonetheless,

this regulatory guide does address the cost to decontaminate an ISFSI licensed under the General License.

Rules applicable to managing and providing funding for the management of irradiated fuel

following shutdown are contained in 10 CFR 50.54(bb). Regulations applicable to an ISFSI facility

are contained in 10 CFR Part 72, “Licensing Requirements for the Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear

Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste.” Site restoration activities that do not involve the removal

of residual radioactivity necessary to terminate the NRC license are outside the scope of NRC regulation.

This regulatory guide contains information collections that are covered by the requirements

of 10 CFR Part 50, which the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved under OMB control

number 3150-0011. The NRC may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to,

an information collection request or requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently

valid OMB control number.
1.202-3

B. DISCUSSION

DECOMMISSIONING OPTIONS

The three basic methods for decommissioning are DECON, SAFSTOR, and ENTOMB. 

NUREG-0586, “Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities,”

and NUREG-0586, Supplement 1 (Ref. 1), evaluated the environmental impact of these three methods,

which are summarized as follows:

(1) DECON: The equipment, structures, and portions of the facility and site that contain radioactive

contaminants are promptly removed or decontaminated to a level that permits termination

of the license after cessation of operations. (Decontamination is initiated within a couple of

years after shutdown and continues until completed, usually within 7 to 10 years.)

(2) SAFSTOR: The facility is placed in a safe, stable condition and maintained in that state

(safe storage). The facility is decontaminated and dismantled at the end of the storage period

to levels that permit license termination. Therefore, the SAFSTOR determination includes

consideration of those activities necessary for final decontamination and dismantlement

of the facility. During SAFSTOR, a facility is left intact or may be partially dismantled,

but the fuel is removed from the reactor vessel and radioactive liquids are drained from systems

and components. Radioactive decay occurs during the SAFSTOR period, thereby reducing

the quantity of contamination and radioactivity that must be disposed of during decontamination

and dismantlement (D&D). The SAFSTOR determination also includes D&D of the facility

at the end of the storage period.

(3) ENTOMB: Radioactive structures, systems, and components are encased in a structurally

long-lived substance, such as concrete. The entombed structure is appropriately maintained,

and monitored (through continued surveillance) until the radioactivity decays to a level

that permits termination of the license. Because most power reactors will have radionuclides

in concentrations exceeding the limits for unrestricted use even after 100 years, and because

current regulations require decommissioning to be completed within 60 years of cessation

of operation, the NRC will handle entombment requests on a case-by-case basis.

Although the selection of the decommissioning option is up to the licensee, the NRC requires

the licensee to reevaluate its selection if the option (1) cannot be completed as described, (2) cannot be

completed within 60 years of the permanent cessation of plant operations, (3) includes activities

that would endanger the health and safety of the public by being outside of the NRC’s health and safety

regulations, or (4) will result in a significant impact to the environment.
1.202-4

DECOMMISSIONING COST ESTIMATES

The following regulatory requirements relate to submitting a decommissioning cost estimate:

• 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2) requires that a licensee “...shall at or about 5 years prior to the projected end

of operations submit [to the NRC] a preliminary decommissioning cost estimate which includes

an up-to-date assessment of the major factors that could affect the cost to decommission.” 

10 CFR 50.75(f)(4) requires a licensee to include plans to adjust funding levels to demonstrate

a reasonable level of financial assurance, if necessary, in the preliminary cost estimate.

In addition, 10 CFR 50.75(c) specifies that the initial certification amount of funds

for decommissioning must be based on the amounts specified in 10 CFR 50.75(c), which represents

the minimum funding level that applicants and licensees must meet. However to meet the

requirements of 10 CFR 50.75(c), a power reactor licensee may submit a certification based on

a site-specific cost estimate, which may be more (but not less) than the amount specified

in 10 CFR 50.75(b)(1) when a higher funding level than 10 CFR 50.75(c) is desired. The basis

for any increases should be provided. Although this site-specific cost estimate is not the same

site-specific cost estimate required by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii), it should address many areas

identified in Section 3 of this document; however, the level of detail will be less and the level

of uncertainty may vary.

• 10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i) requires a licensee to provide “...an estimate of expected costs...”

for the activities being proposed in the PSDAR. As previously stated, the PSDAR is to be

submitted prior to or within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations. Regulatory

Guide 1.185, “Standard Format and Content for Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities

Report” (Ref. 2), identifies the types of information to be included in the PSDAR. The cost

estimate may be a site-specific cost estimate or the amount of decommissioning funds

estimated to be required pursuant to 10 CFR 50.75(b) and (c), as currently reported to the NRC

on a calendar-year basis at least once every 2 years in accordance with 10 CFR 50.75(f)(1).

• 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii) requires a licensee to provide a site-specific decommissioning cost

estimate within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations. (This requirement may be

satisfied by including a site-specific cost estimate as part of the PSDAR.)

In addition, 10 CFR 50.75(c) specifies that the initial certification amount of funds

for decommissioning must be based on the amounts specified in 10 CFR 50.75(c)(1), which

represents the minimum funding level that applicants and licensees must meet. The site-specific

cost estimate submitted within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations may be

significantly larger than the funding level based on the formula. If the site-specific cost estimate

results in a funding level that differs from the amount specified in 10 CFR 50.75(c), the licensee

must provide the basis for the change.

• 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(ii)(F) requires a licensee to provide “an updated site-specific estimate

of remaining decommissioning costs...” as part of a license termination plan (LTP). 

10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(i) requires a licensee to submit its LTP at least 2 years before termination

of the license.
1.202-5

As provided in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(ii), a licensee may withdraw funds from the decommissioning

trust fund up to a cumulative total of 3 percent of the generic amount calculated under 10 CFR 50.75(c)

for decommissioning planning purposes at any time without prior notification to the NRC. After submittal

of the certifications of permanent shutdown and fuel removal required under 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)

and commencing 90 days after the NRC has received the PSDAR, the licensee may use up to an additional

20 percent of the decommissioning funds prescribed in 10 CFR 50.75(c) for decommissioning purposes. 

The licensee is prohibited from using the remaining 77 percent of the generic decommissioning funds

until a site-specific decommissioning cost estimate is submitted to the NRC. In addition, 10 CFR

50.82(a)(8)(i) limits use of the decommissioning funds to legitimate radiological decommissioning

expenses that neither reduces the value of the trust fund below that necessary to place and maintain

the reactor in a safe storage condition, nor impacts the licensee’s ability to complete funding of the trust

to ultimately release the site and terminate the license.

C. REGULATORY POSITION

The major types of cost estimates affecting the licensee are (1) the preliminary cost estimate,

(2) the estimate of expected costs presented in the PSDAR, (3) the site-specific decommissioning cost

estimate, and (4) the updated site-specific estimate of remaining decommissioning costs.

The licensee is reminded that 10 CFR 50.2 defines decommissioning as the safe removal

of a facility or site from service and the reduction of residual radioactivity to levels that permit release

of the site and termination of the license. For example, removing uncontaminated material, such as soil

or a wall, to gain access to contamination to be removed would be a legitimate decommissioning cost. 

However, the costs of demolition of decontaminated structures, site restoration activities, or other

activities not involved with removing the facility from service or reducing residual radioactivity are not

included within the NRC’s definition of decommissioning costs, and are not included in the amount

of funds that 10 CFR 50.75 requires to be placed in the plant’s decommissioning fund. If a licensee

sets aside funds in the trust that are supporting non-NRC decommissioning activities, the sub-accounts

under the trust must be clearly designated.

1. PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE PRIOR TO THE END OF OPERATIONS

The preliminary cost estimate, required by 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2), must be submitted at or about

5 years before the projected end of operations. The intent of the preliminary estimate is to provide

the NRC with an up-to-date estimate of decommissioning costs and identify major factors that would

impact the cost of the decommissioning. The licensee will already have submitted a cost estimate

for establishing a fund for decommissioning as required by 10 CFR 50.75(b). This estimate will have

been revised periodically during operation and may be used in preparing the preliminary cost estimate. 

For the preliminary cost estimate, the NRC will compare the estimated costs with the minium

decommissioning trust fund amount derived from the formula and, if the preliminary cost estimate

is greater than the amount in the decommissioning trust fund, the licensee should include a discussion

of the mechanism for adjusting the level of funds to demonstrate that funds will be available for use

at the time of permanent shutdown.

The preliminary cost estimate may be a new or previously developed site-specific cost estimate,

provided that the estimate contains the information specified in 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2) and represents

the cost to decommission the facility. The preliminary cost estimate information may be in summary form,

as long as the supporting basis has previously been submitted and is referenced.
1.202-6

The projected end of operations need not be the same as the expiration date of the operating license

if a licensee chooses to permanently cease operations at an earlier date. In some cases, a licensee may

shut down prematurely and submit its certification of permanent cessation of operations, as required by

10 CFR 50.82(a)(1), more than 5 years prior to the expiration date of the operating license. In this event,

the requirement of 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2) to submit a preliminary cost estimate is not applicable. 

If a prematurely shutdown licensee chooses to submit its PSDAR along with its certification of permanent

shutdown, it could choose to submit its preliminary cost estimate as the estimate of expected costs

required for the PSDAR. This action would satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i).

The information in the preliminary cost estimate should be similar to that submitted

for the site-specific cost estimate; however, the level of detail will be less and the level of uncertainty

may vary. For example, the NRC recognizes that many items (such as waste disposal cost) are difficult

to estimate and may vary during the 5 years prior to shutdown. The preliminary cost estimate should

include the following:

• a detailed discussion of the decommissioning option anticipated to be implemented (DECON,

SAFSTOR, or some combination thereof), with major factors that could impact the cost

of decommissioning, including major technical actions and waste disposal site availability

• a discussion of the potential for known or suspected contamination at the site that may affect

the cost of decommissioning [This discussion should include an evaluation of the records

of information important to decommissioning required by 10 CFR 50.75(g). Although

the requirements described in 10 CFR 50.75(g) for keeping records of spills or other unusual

occurrences are outside the scope of this regulatory guide, the licensee should evaluate

the anticipated extent of contamination on the facility and site, based on information available

in the decommissioning files. This evaluation should include descriptions of known instances

of releases of contaminated materials into the facility and the external environment, along with

the possible impact on decommissioning. Known environmental contamination

(e.g., contamination in soil, groundwater, or surface water) should be identified.]

• a preliminary schedule that shows the major decommissioning phases and the time period

over which each of the phases extends

• a summary of the total estimated decommissioning costs by decommissioning activity

[This summary should include the anticipated cost of low-level waste (LLW) disposal. 

Table 1 of this document presents a suggested format for providing this information.]

• a comparison of the estimated cost with the minimum decommissioning fund requirement

• a discussion of the plans for adjusting the level of funds in the trust to demonstrate that funds

will be available for use when needed should be included if the decommissioning trust is not

fully funded
1.202-7

Table 1. Suggested Format for Tabulating Expected Costs

Estimated Decommissioning Cost (Millions of Estimate-Year Dollars)

Period 1

(X.X Years)

Period 2

(X.X Years)

Period 3

(X.X Years)

Period 4

(X.X Years)

Duration

(X.X Years)

Decommissioning

Activity

Planning &

Preparation

Plant

Deactivation

Safe Storage

Operations

DismantlementTotal

 Cost

Radioactive Component Removal

Decontamination and

Dismantlement

Management and Support 

LLW Costs including packaging,

shipping and burial/vendor costs

Total Cost

2. ESTIMATE OF EXPECTED COSTS IN THE PSDAR

Prior to or within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations, the licensee is required

[by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i)] to submit a PSDAR to the NRC. In addition to other prescribed content,

this report must include an estimate of costs. Regulatory Guide 1.185 (Ref. 2) identifies the types

of information to be contained in the PSDAR. The cost estimate may be satisfied by either of

the following methods and supporting information:

(1) the amount of decommissioning funds estimated to be required by 10 CFR 50.75(b) and (c),

as currently reported to the NRC on a calendar-year basis at least once every 2 years

in accordance with 10 CFR 50.75(f)(1)

(2) a site-specific cost estimate

Other related but non-NRC decommissioning costs (e.g., spent fuel storage, site restoration)

may be included in the estimate of costs if desired; however, the cost of radiological decommissioning

as defined by 10 CFR 50.2 should be listed separately. As a separate item, the cost of placing and

maintaining the facility in safe storage should be identified, along with a plan to ensure that sufficient

funds will be available for this purpose, if necessary, until such time as the radioactively contaminated

material is placed in an authorized waste disposal site. It should be noted that, as with the PSDAR,

10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii) requires a licensee to provide a site-specific decommissioning cost estimate

within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations. If the estimate of costs provided with

the PSDAR is a site-specific cost estimate, this requirement can be satisfied with the PSDAR submittal.
1.202-8

2.1 Cost Estimate Based on Financial Assurance Amounts [10 CFR 50.75(b) and (c)]

Licensees of operating pressurized-water reactors (PWRs) and boiling-water reactors (BWRs)

must provide reasonable assurance that funds will be available to accomplish decommissioning

within 60 years from the date of permanent cessation of operations, as required by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3). 

Reasonable assurance may be demonstrated by compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.75(b),

(c), (e), and (f). These requirements ensure that a licensee has financial assurance in effect for an amount

that may be more (but not less) than the amount stated in the table in 10 CFR 50.75(c)(1). A licensee

is required [by 10 CFR 50.75(f)(1)] to report, on a calendar-year basis at least once every 2 years,

the status of its decommissioning funding. Specifically, this table demonstrates that if P equals

the thermal power of a reactor in megawatts (MWt), the minimum financial assurance (MFA) funding

amount (in millions, January 1986 dollars) is calculated as follows:

• for a PWR: MFA = (75 + 0.0088P)

• for a BWR: MFA = (104 + 0.009P)

For either a PWR or a BWR, if the thermal power of the reactor is less than 1,200 MWt,

the value of P to be used in these equations is 1,200, whereas if the thermal power is greater than

3,400 MWt, the value of P to be used is 3,400.

The financial assurance amounts calculated in the above equations are based on January 1986

dollars. To account for inflation from 1986 to the current year, these amounts must be adjusted annually

by multiplying by an escalation factor (ESC) described in 10 CFR 50.75(c)(2), as follows:

ESC (current year) = (0.65L + 0.13E + 0.22B)

where L and E are the ESC from 1986 to the current year for labor and energy, respectively, and are to be

taken from regional data of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (Refs. 3 and 4),

and B is an annual ESC from 1986 to the current year for waste burial and is to be taken from the most

recent revision of NUREG-1307, “Report on Waste Disposal Charges: Changes in Decommissioning

Waste Disposal Costs at Low-Level Waste Burial Facilities” (Ref. 5). The NRC updates NUREG-1307

from time to time to account for disposal charge changes. In January 1986 (the base year), using disposal

costs from DOE’s Hanford Reservation waste disposal site, L, E, and B all equaled unity; thus, the ESC

itself equaled unity. (Reference 2 discusses the origin of the 0.65L, 0.13E, and 0.22B terms.) Thus,

MFA (in millions, current year dollars) = MFA x ESC (current year)

2.2 Site-Specific Cost Estimates in the PSDAR

The estimate of expected decommissioning costs required for the PSDAR can be the same

as the site-specific cost estimate required by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii). The site-specific cost estimate

is a detailed assessment that incorporates the cost impact of site-specific factors. (Section 3 of this

document discusses the site-specific estimate.)
1.202-9

3. SITE-SPECIFIC COST ESTIMATE

A licensee is required [by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii)] to submit a site-specific cost estimate

within 2 years following permanent cessation of operations. The licensee may include this cost estimate

with the PSDAR [10 CFR 50.82(a)(4)(i)]. In addition, a site-specific estimate may be submitted,

at the discretion of the licensee, when a funding level differs from that calculated in the formula

in 10 CFR 50.75(c). The site-specific cost estimate must clearly identify and provide the basis for

the funding level if it differs from the formula. The site-specific cost estimate information, as well as

the update of the site-specific cost, may be in summary form, as long as the supporting basis

has previously been submitted and is referenced. If the cost estimate was prepared for the rate regulator,

it may contain additional costs that the NRC does not consider part of the radiological decommissioning

costs; however, the cost estimate is acceptable provided the costs are separated and easily

distinguishable. Sections 3.1–3.4 discuss the types of information that the licensee should provide to

help the NRC staff properly assess the estimate.

3.1 General Information

• Discuss the chosen decommissioning option (DECON, SAFSTOR, or some combination

thereof).

• Discuss the methodology used to derive the cost estimates.

• Summarize total decommissioning costs by period. (Table 2 of this document presents

a suggested format for providing this information.) Provide a separate list of the costs of items

not considered part of decommissioning (such as site restoration and spent nuclear fuel

storage/management).

• Compare the estimated cost with the minimum financial assurance (MFA) funding requirement.

• Discuss the plans for adjusting the level of funds in the trust should be included to demonstrate

that funds will be available for use when needed if the decommissioning trust is not fully funded.

• Summarize the costs of services, supplies, and special equipment. This category should include

cost estimates for protective clothing and equipment services supplied by an outside vendor. 

Also included under this category would be costs of purchasing or leasing specialized

decommissioning equipment.

• Summarize undistributed costs, such as property taxes, consultancy costs, nuclear liability

insurance costs, energy costs, annual maintenance costs for SAFSTOR phases, site termination

survey costs, and regulatory costs (inspections, miscellaneous fees, etc.).

Table 2. Suggested Format for Tabulating Decommissioning Costs by Period

Decommissioning

Option Chosen

DECON or SAFSTOR

Decommissioning Period Duration (Years) /

Decommissioning Cost (Millions of Estimate-Year Dollars)

Period 1

Planning &

Preparation

Period 2

Plant Deactivation

Period 3

Safe Storage

 Operations

Period 4

Dismantlement Total

Period Years

Period Cost
1.202-10

For the DECON option, the total decommissioning costs should be separated into the following

activities:

• major radioactive component removal (reactor vessel and internals, steam generators,

pressurizers, large-bore reactor coolant system piping, and other large components)

• radiological decontamination and dismantlement (D&D, which involves removing remaining

radioactive plant systems, including radiological decontamination) (Tables 3 and 4

of this document present suggested formats for providing this information.)

• management and support [labor costs of support staff and decommissioning operations

contractors (DOCs), energy costs, regulatory costs, small tools, insurance, etc.]

• low-level waste (LLW) costs (including packaging, shipping, and burial/waste vendor costs)

• groundwater and soil remediation, if any

• final radiological survey costs

• contingency (allowance for unexpected costs)

Table 3. Suggested Format for Listing Contaminated Equipment and Piping

Equipment Category(a)

Length of Piping in Feet or Number of Items in Each

Category

Piping diameter > 3 inches

Piping diameter # 3 inches

Valves > 3 inches

Valves # 3 inches

Tanks of all sizes

Pumps > 100 pounds

Pumps # 100 pounds

Heat exchangers > 100 pounds

Heat exchangers # 100 pounds

Electrical components > 100 pounds

Electrical components # 100 pounds

Miscellaneous components > 100 pounds

Miscellaneous components # 100 pounds

Large piping hanger for pipes > 4 inches in diameter

Small piping hanger for pipes # 4 inches in diameter

(a) The equipment categories shown here as examples. Any reasonable method of categorization is acceptable.

Table 4. Suggested Format for Listing Concrete and Metal Surfaces 

that Require Radiological Decontamination or Removal

Building or

Location

Area of Concrete

Decontaminated (ft2

)

Volume of Concrete

Removed (ft3)

Area of Metal Surfaces

Decontaminated (ft2)

Volume of Metal Surfaces

Removed (ft3)
1.202-11

For the SAFSTOR option, the decommissioning costs should also be separated into the following

time periods, or a similar set of decommissioning time periods:

• pre-decommissioning engineering and planning/plant deactivation (all activities from

engineering and planning through defueling and layup to complete the placement of the reactor

into permanent shutdown condition)

• extended safe storage operations (safe storage monitoring of the facility until dismantlement

begins); if storage or monitoring of spent fuel is included in the cost estimate, it should be shown

separately

• final radiological D&D (radiological D&D of radioactive systems and structures required

for license termination, including demolition for the purposes of reducing residual radioactivity);

if demolition of decontaminated structures and site restoration activities are included in the cost

estimate, they should be shown separately

Table 1 provides an example of a format for tabulating costs for either DECON or SAFSTOR.

Tables 5 and 6 provide suggested formats for tabulating decommissioning cost for both PWR and BWR

component cost.
1.202-12

Table 5. Suggested Format for Tabulating PWR Decommissioning Costs by Period

Decommissioning Cost (Thousands of Estimate-Year Dollars)

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Duration

(X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years)

Decommissioning Activity

Planning &

Preparation

Plant

Deactivation

Safe Storage

Operations

Dismantlement Total Cost

Radioactive Component Removal

Removal of RPV Internals

Removal of Reactor Pressure Vessel

Steam Generator--Direct Removal Costs

Steam Generator--Cascading Costs

RCS Piping

Large Miscellaneous RCS Piping

Small Miscellaneous RCS Piping

RCS Insulation

Pressurizer

Pressurizer Relief Tank

Primary Pumps

Spent Fuel Racks

Biological Shield

Subtotal

Decontamination and Dismantlement

Decontamination of Site Buildings

Removal of Contaminated Plant Systems

Subtotal

Management and Support

Support Staff

DOC Staff

Consultant/Other Staff

Termination Survey Costs

Regulatory Costs

Special Tools and Equipment

Environmental Monitoring Costs

Laundry Services

Small Tools and Minor Equipment

Nuclear Liability Insurance

Property Taxes

DOC Mobilization/Demobilization Costs

Steam Generator--Undistributed Costs

Chemical Decon

Plant Power Usage

Subtotal

LLW Costs including packing,shipping

and vendor/burial costs

Total
1.202-13

Table 6. Suggested Format for Tabulating BWR Decommissioning Costs by Period

Decommissioning Cost (Thousands of Estimate-Year Dollars)

Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Duration

 ( X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years) (X.X Years)

Decommissioning Activity

Planning &

Preparation

Plant 

Deactivation

Safe Storage

Operations

 DismantlementTotal 

Cost

Radioactive Component Removal

RPV Internals

Reactor Pressure Vessel and Insulation

Shielding

Recirculation Pumps

RCS Piping

RCS Piping Insulation

Main Turbine

Main Turbine Condenser

Moisture Separator Reheaters

Feed Water Heaters

Turbine Feed Pumps

Structural Beams, Plates, & Cable Trays

Spent Fuel Racks

Subtotal

Decontamination and Dismantlement

Decontamination of Site Buildings

Removal of Contaminated Plant Systems

Subtotal

Management and Support

Support Staff

DOC Staff

Consultant/Other Staff

Termination Survey Costs

Regulatory Costs

Special Tools and Equipment

Environmental Monitoring Costs

Laundry Services

Small Tools and Minor Equipment

Nuclear Liability Insurance

DOC Mobilization/Demobilization Costs

Chemical Decontamination 

Plant Power Usage

Subtotal

LLW Costs including packaging,shipping,

and burial/vendor costs

Total
1.202-14

3.2 Cost Estimate for the Removal or Radiological Decontamination

of Major Radioactive Components

For a PWR, major radiological components should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• reactor vessel and internals 

• reactor coolant loops

• reactor coolant pumps

• bioshield

• pressurizer

• steam generators

• spent fuel racks

• other large contaminated components

For a BWR, major radiological components should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• reactor vessel and internals

• reactor coolant piping

• main turbines/generators

• turbine condensers

• moisture separator reheaters

• feedwater heaters

• feedwater pumps

• spent fuel racks

• other large contaminated components

3.3 Burial Cost and Volumes

The licensee should provide tabulations of expected waste volumes, packaging costs, shipping

costs, and burial costs by decommissioning activity. Table 7 provides a suggested format. The licensee

should also submit plans for radwaste disposition, including radwaste disposal sites to be used,

if available. If a vendor will process the waste, the radwaste information after processing should be

provided to show the results of the waste minimization. The licensee may also elect to provide descriptions of

the methods and technologies used to achieve the improved waste characteristics. The licensee

should also provide radwaste volumes by class expected to be generated during decommissioning. 

Table 8 provides a suggested format.

Table 7. Typical Waste Burial Cost and Volumes

Decommissioning Activity

Waste Volume

(ft3)

Packaging Cost

(Estimate-Year $millions)

Shipping Cost

(Estimate-Year $millions)

Burial Cost

(Estimate-Year

$millions)

Removal of Nuclear Steam Supply

System

Removal of Contaminated Plant

Systems

Radiological Decontamination of

Site Buildings

Dry Active Waste

Total
1.202-15

Table 8. Burial Volumes by Waste Class

Waste Class Volume (ft3) Percent

Class A

Class B&C

Greater-Than-Class-C

Total

3.4 Other Items

The licensee should provide the following additional information:

• a brief discussion of contingency costs and the methods used to calculate them

• a brief discussion of how inflation is accounted for in the cost estimate

• a schedule for the accumulation and expenditure of decommissioning funds

• an estimate of the cost to support safe storage, if it becomes necessary

• labor requirements (person-years) and labor costs by time period; Table 9 provides

a suggested format

Table 9. Labor Requirements and Labor Costs

Labor Requirements (person-yrs) and Labor Costs

(Estimate-Year $millions)

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Total

(Labor

Req)

(Labor

Cost)

(Labor

Req)

(Labor

Cost)

(Labor

Req)

(Labor

Cost)

(Labor

Req)

(Labor

Cost)

(Labor

Req)

(Labor

Cost)

Decommissioning Crews

Management/Support Staff

Total
1.202-16

4. LICENSE TERMINATION COST ESTIMATE

According to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(ii)(F), a licensee must submit an “updated site-specific estimate

of remaining decommissioning costs” as part of an LTP. According to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(i),

the licensee must submit the LTP at least 2 years before termination of the license. The estimated

remaining costs of decommissioning must be compared with the present funds set aside for decommissioning. 

The financial assurance instrument required by 10 CFR 50.75 must be funded at least to the amount

of the cost estimate. If there is a deficit in present funding, the LTP must indicate the means to ensure

that adequate funds will be available to complete the decommissioning. Licensees should be aware that

10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(i)(B) requires that expenditures are not to reduce the value of the decommissioning

trust below an amount necessary to place and maintain the reactor in a safe storage condition

if unforeseen conditions arise. Information on the preparation of an LTP may be found in Regulatory

Guide 1.179, “Standard Format and Content of License Termination Plans for Nuclear Power Reactors”

(Ref. 10), and NUREG-1700, “Standard Review Plan for Evaluating Nuclear Power Reactor License

Termination Plans” (Ref. 11).

The cost estimate portion of the LTP is an updated version of the site-specific estimate that

the licensee previously submitted to the NRC. The LTP cost estimate should contain refined estimates

of the remaining decommissioning activities, including the cost to remediate surface and groundwater,

soil contamination, waste transportation and disposal costs, and license termination survey costs. 

If the site is to be released for restricted use, the LTP cost estimate should also include estimated costs

for controls and a description of the financial assurance mechanisms used to ensure the availability

of funds when they are needed. Cost estimates for restricted release or entombment will be handled

on a case-by-case basis.

5. FORMAT OF THE DECOMMISSIONING COST ESTIMATES

Graphic presentations such as charts, drawings, maps, diagrams, sketches, and tables should be

employed when the information may be presented more adequately or conveniently by such means. 

Care should be taken to ensure that all information so presented is legible in the original documents

and reproduced copies. Also, ensure that symbols are defined and scales are not reduced to the extent

that visual aids are necessary to interpret items of information. These graphic presentations should be

located in the section where the subject matter is primarily addressed. References should appear

as footnotes on the page they were discussed or at the end of each chapter.

Decommissioning cost estimates may be submitted to the NRC in electronic or paper format,

as described in Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2001-05, “Guidance on Submitting Documents

to the NRC by Electronic Information Exchange or on CD-ROM” (Ref.12).
1.202-17

5.1 Physical Format

5.1.1 Paper Size

• Text pages: 81⁄2 × 11 inches.

• Drawings and graphics: 81⁄2 × 11 inches. A larger size is acceptable provided the finished copy,

when folded, does not exceed 81⁄2 × 11 inches.

5.1.2 Paper Stock and Ink

Use suitable quality in substance, paper color, and ink density for handling and reproduction.

5.1.3 Page Margins

A margin of no less than 1 inch should be maintained on the top, bottom, and binding side

of all pages submitted.

5.1.4 Printing

• Composition: Text pages should be single spaced.

• Type Face and Style: Should be suitable for image-copying equipment, including computer

scanning.

• Reproduction: Copies may be mechanically or photographically reproduced.

5.1.5 Binding

No requirements.

5.1.6 Page Numbering

Pages should be numbered sequentially.

5.1.7 Procedures for Updating or Revising Pages

Data and text should be updated or revised by replacing pages. The changed or revised portion

of each page should be highlighted by a “change indicator” mark consisting of a bold vertical line

drawn in the margin opposite the binding margin. The line should be of the same length as the portion

actually changed.

All pages submitted to update, revise, or add information to the report should show the date

of change and a change or amendment number. A guide page listing the pages to be inserted and/or

removed should accompany the revised pages. When major changes or additions are made, a revised

table of contents should be provided.

5.1.8 Exceptions to Physical Specifications

Submittals may be made over the Internet or electronically; for guidance, see Regulatory Issue

Summary 2001-05 (Ref. 12).
1 Copies are available at current rates from the U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 37082, Washington, DC

20402-9328 (telephone (202) 512-1800); or from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by writing NTIS

at 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; http://www.ntis.gov; telephone (703) 487-4650. Copies are

available for inspection or copying for a fee from the NRC’s Public Document Room at 11555 Rockville Pike,

Rockville, MD; the PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555; telephone (301) 415-4737

or (800) 397-4209; fax (301) 415-3548; email is PDR@nrc.gov.

2 Single copies of regulatory guides, both active and draft, and draft NUREG documents may be obtained free of charge

by writing the Reproduction and Distribution Services, USNRC, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by fax to

(301) 415-2289, or by email to DISTRIBUTION@nrc.gov. Active guides may also be purchased from the National

Technical Information Service on a standing order basis. Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS,

5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; telephone (703) 487-4650; online at http://www.ntis.gov. Copies of

active and draft guides are available for inspection or copying for a fee from the NRC’s Public Document Room

at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD; the PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555;

telephone (301) 415-4737 or (800) 397-4209; fax (301) 415-3548; email PDR@nrc.gov.

1.202-18

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement

on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities,” NUREG-0586, Supplement 1, October 2002.1

2. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Standard Format and Content for Post-Shutdown

Decommissioning Activities Report,” Regulatory Guide 1.185, August 2000.2

3. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review,

currently Table 24, updated periodically.

4. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, currently Table 6,

updated periodically.

5. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Report on Waste Disposal Charges: Changes in

Decommissioning Waste Disposal Costs at Low-Level Waste Burial Facilities,” NUREG-1307,

Rev. 9, September 2000.1

6. R.I. Smith, G J. Konzek, and W.E. Kennedy, Jr., “Technology, Safety and Costs of

Decommissioning a Reference Pressurized-Water Reactor Power Station,” NUREG/CR-0130

(Prepared for the U.S. NRC by Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington), June 1978

(Addendum 1, July 1979; Addendum 2, July 1983; Addendum 3, September 1984; Addendum 4,

July 1988).1

7. H.D. Oak et al., “Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning a Reference Boiling-Water

Reactor Power Station,” NUREG/CR-0672 (Prepared for the U.S. NRC by Pacific Northwest

Laboratory, Richland, Washington), June 1980 (Addendum 1, July 1983; Addendum 2,

September 1984; Addendum 3, July 1988; Addendum 4, December 1990).1

8. G.J. Konzek et al., “Revised Analyses of Decommissioning for the Reference Pressurized-Water

Reactor Power Station,” NUREG/CR-5884 (Prepared for the U.S. NRC by Pacific Northwest

Laboratory, Richland, Washington), November 1995.1

9. R.I. Smith et al., “Revised Analyses of Decommissioning for the Reference Boiling-Water

Reactor Power Station,” NUREG/CR-6174 (Prepared for the U.S. NRC by Pacific Northwest

National Laboratory, Richland, Washington), July 1996.1
3 Single copies of regulatory guides, both active and draft, and draft NUREG documents may be obtained free of charge

by writing the Reproduction and Distribution Services, USNRC, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by fax to

(301) 415-2289, or by email to DISTRIBUTION@nrc.gov. Active guides may also be purchased from the National

Technical Information Service on a standing order basis. Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS,

5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; telephone (703) 487-4650; online at http://www.ntis.gov. Copies of

active and draft guides are available for inspection or copying for a fee from the NRC’s Public Document Room

at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD; the PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555;

telephone (301) 415-4737 or (800) 397-4209; fax (301) 415-3548; email PDR@nrc.gov.

4 Copies are available at current rates from the U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 37082, Washington, DC

20402-9328 (telephone (202) 512-1800); or from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by writing NTIS

at 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; http://www.ntis.gov; telephone (703) 487-4650. Copies are

available for inspection or copying for a fee from the NRC’s Public Document Room at 11555 Rockville Pike,

Rockville, MD; the PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555; telephone (301) 415-4737

or (800) 397-4209; fax (301) 415-3548; email is PDR@nrc.gov.

5 The NRC’s regulatory issue summaries are available electronically on the agency’s public Web site

at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-comm/reg-issues. Copies are also available for inspection

or copying for a fee from the NRC’s Public Document Room at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD;

the PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555; telephone (301) 415-4737 or (800) 397-4209;

fax (301) 415-3548; email PDR@nrc.gov.

1.202-19

10. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Standard Format and Content of License Termination

Plans for Nuclear Power Reactors,” Regulatory Guide 1.179, January 1999.3

11. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “Standard Review Plan for Evaluating Nuclear Power

Reactor License Termination Plans,” NUREG-1700, April 2000.4

12. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Regulatory Issue Summary 2001-05, “Guidance on

Submitting Documents to the NRC by Electronic Information Exchange or on CD-ROM,”

January 25, 2001.5
1.202-20

D. IMPLEMENTATION

The purpose of this section is to provide information to applicants and licensees regarding

the NRC staff’s plans for using this guide. No backfitting is intended or approved in connection with

the issuance of this guide.

Except when an applicant or licensee proposes or has previously established an acceptable

alternative method for complying with specified portions of the NRC’s regulations, the methods

described in this guide will be used in evaluating (1) submittals for licensing-basis documents,

and (2) revisions or updates to the decommissioning cost estimates that are submitted in accordance

with applicable regulations.

REGULATORY ANALYSIS

The NRC staff did not prepare a separate regulatory analysis for this regulatory guide. 

The regulatory analysis prepared for the amendments to 10 CFR Parts 2, 50, and 51,

“Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors,” which the NRC issued on July 29, 1996 (61 FR 39278),

provides the regulatory basis for this guide and examines the costs and benefits associated with

implementing the rule as described in this guide. A copy of this regulatory analysis is available

for inspection and copying (for a fee) at the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR), which is located

at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The PDR’s mailing address is USNRC PDR,

Washington, DC 20555-0001. The PDR can also be reached by telephone at (301) 415-4737

or (800) 397-4205, by fax at (301) 415-3548, and by email to PDR@nrc.gov.

BACKFIT ANALYSIS

This regulatory guide describes a voluntary method that the NRC staff considers acceptable

for submitting the decommissioning cost estimates required by amendments to 10 CFR Parts 2, 50,

and 51, “Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors,” which the NRC issued on July 29, 1996

(61 FR 39278). During the rulemaking process associated with those amendments, the NRC staff

carefully considered the reasons for collecting the required information. Compliance with this

regulatory guide is not a requirement, and a licensee may choose this or another method to achieve

compliance with these rules. Thus, this regulatory guide does not require a backfit analysis, as described

in 10 CFR 50.109(c), because it does not impose a new or amended provision in the NRC’s rules,

does not present a regulatory staff position that interprets the NRC’s rules in a manner that is either new

or different from a previous staff position; and does not require the modification of or addition to

the systems, structures, components, or design of a facility, or the procedures or organization required

to design, construct, or operate a facility.