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:
tor requirements commensurate with their importance to the safety of permanently shutdown reactors. Decommissioning Phases To facilitate understanding of the decommissioning process, the NRC staff has divided the decommissioning activities for power reactors into three general phases. The first phase of decommissioning includes the initial planning and transition activities starting on either the effective date of permanent cessation of operations or upon submittal of the PSDAR or IFMP, whichever occurs first. The first phase encompasses the activities that take place before the licensee either places the power reactor into a storage mode or begins major decommissioning activities (as defined in 10 CFR 50.2), including the transition of the licensing basis to reflect a decommissioning facility. The second decommissioning phase encompasses the conduct of activities during the storage period or the undertaking of major decommissioning activities (i.e., decontamination and dismantlement), or some combination of the two. The third phase consists of the rest of the activities that the licensee undertakes to reduce the remaining radioactivity at the site to a level that permits release of the site. The amendments to 10 CFR Part 2 (Ref. 20) and 10 CFR Part 51 in the 1996 decommissioning rule pertain to this third phase of decommissioning. In addition, Volumes 1 and 2 of Supplement 1 to NUREG-0586, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities” (the Decommissioning GEIS), issued November 2002 (Ref. 21), as well as the supplemental information to the 1988 decommissioning rule (53 FR 24018; June 27, 1988), evaluate the environmental impact of the following three decommissioning methods: (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 shortly after cessation of operations. The