Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 94d9f3d5-978d-4aea-9ba7-486ca7f8503a
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Standard Format and Content of Decommissioning Cost Estimates for Nuclear Power Reactors
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0131/ML013100099.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.202
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
cording 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 a License Termination Plan (LTP). According to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(i), the licensee must submit the LTP at least two 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 per 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 for ensuring adequate funds to complete the decommissioning. In some cases, a licensee may borrow funds to continue work while its decommissioning fund is collecting revenues that will be used to repay the loans. A licensee that uses these methods should identify the schedule for borrowing and repayment. 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 18 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, equally detailed, version of the site-specific estimate submitted to the NRC earlier (see Regulatory Position 3). The LTP cost estimate should contain refined estimates of the remaining decommissioning activities, waste transportation and disposal costs, survey costs and license termination survey costs. If the site is to be released for restricted use, the estimated costs for controls and a description of the financial assurance mechanisms used to ensure the