Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 151ab883-1221-4a79-88d6-a2631cce2239
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2134/ML21347A080.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-05
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.184
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
seek to return to power-generation operation. If the NRC issues an order to permanently cease operations at a facility, the certification would be required within 30 days of the effective date of the order. According to 10 CFR 50.4(b)(8) and 10 CFR 52.3(b)(8), the certification must state the date on which power-generation operations permanently ceased, or will permanently cease, and must be submitted under oath or affirmation. This certification is deemed to have already been submitted for licensees whose licenses were permanently modified before the effective date of the 1996 decommissioning rule to allow for possession, but not operation, of the facility, as stated in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(iii). Following submission of the certification for permanent cessation of operations, the facility license continues in effect beyond the expiration date until the NRC notifies the licensee in writing that the license has been terminated (in accordance with 10 CFR 50.51(b) and 10 CFR 52.109). A permanently shutdown facility does not require an amendment to extend the expiration date of the operating license. The NRC deems receipt of the certification of permanent cessation of operations as a commitment by the licensee to cease operations on the specified date. Following submission of the certification of permanent cessation of operations, or at any time during the decommissioning process, if the licensee desires to operate the facility again, it must notify the NRC of its intentions in writing. The NRC would handle review and approval activities to return the facility to operation on a case-by-case basis, and the extent of review and approval would depend on the facility status at the time that the licensee submits a request to reauthorize operation. This prohibition on continuing reactor operation does not apply to licensees that have only submitted a written notification of the intent to decommission a facility at some point in the future but have not established or certified