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:
on of operations unless the NRC approves an extended timeline for decommissioning the facility or the general license ISFSI in accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(3) or 10 CFR 52.110 (c) when necessary to protect public health and safety. DG-1347 Revision 1, Page 8 Figure 1. Simple decommissioning timeline Decommissioning Funding The 1996 decommissioning rule changed the licensee’s ability to access the trust funds set aside for radiological decommissioning under 10 CFR 50.75. The licensee’s ability to use the trust funds set aside for radiological decommissioning depends on reaching certain milestones in the decommissioning process. This limitation on the accessibility of the decommissioning funds is designed to ensure that sufficient funds are always available to place the facility in a safe, stable condition that ultimately leads to decommissioning and license termination. The licensee may use up to 23 percent of the amount (specified in 10 CFR 50.75(c)) of the decommissioning trust funds (DTFs) for decommissioning activities before submitting a site-specific decommissioning cost estimate. Included in this 23 percent is an initial 3 percent that the licensee can use, even before permanent cessation of operations, for decommissioning planning, which does not include planning for the management of irradiated fuel. The licensee may use the remaining 20 percent for active decommissioning activities (DECON) or to ready the facility for long- term storage (SAFSTOR). This 20 percent may be used only after the licensee has submitted the certifications specified by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) or 10 CFR 52.110(a), and after the 90-day period following submission of the PSDAR. The remaining DTFs would be available for use for decommissioning activities, consistent with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(i) and 10 CFR 52.110(h)(1), after the licensee submits a site-specific decommissioning cost estimate to the NRC. In 10 CFR 50.82(a)(8)(iii) and 10 CFR 52.110(h)(3), the NRC requires the licensee to