Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 125a0eda-7c6e-4943-88ef-2e1be9b1a412
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Termination of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Reactors
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0037/ML003740243.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.86
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION REGULATORY DIRECTORATE OF REGULATORY STANDARDS REGULATORY GUIDE 1.86 TERMINATION OF OPERATING LICENSES FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS A. INTRODUCTION Section 50.51, "Duration of license, renewal," of 10 CFR Part 50, "Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities," requires that each license to operate a production and utilization facility be issued for a specified duration. Upon expiration of the specified period, the license may be either renewed or terminated by the Commission. Section 50.82, "Applications for termination of licenses," specifies the requirements that must be satisfied to terminate an operating license, including the requirement that the dismantlement of the facility and disposal, of the component parts not be inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety of the public. This guide describes methods and procedures considered acceptable by the Regulatory staff for the termination of operating licenses for nuclear reactors. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has been consulted concerning this guide and has concurred in the regulatory position. B. DISCUSSION When a licensee decides to terminate his nuclear reactor operating license, he may, as a first step in the process, request that his operating license be amended to restrict him to possess but not operate the facility. The advantage to the licensee of converting to such a possession.only license is reduced surveillance require ments in that periodic surveillance of equipment im portant to the safety of reactor operation is no longer required. Once this possession-only license is issued, reactor operation is not permitted. Other activities related to cessation of operations such as unloading fuel from the reactor and placing it in storage (either onsite of offsite) may be continued. June 1974 GUIDE A licensee having a possession-only license- must retain, with the Part 50 license, authorization for special nuclear material (10 CFR Part 70,