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:
separately notify the NRC of its program to manage and provide funding for the management of irradiated fuel. The NRC will perform a comparison of the estimated costs with the minimum decommissioning trust fund requirement derived per the algorithm discussed in Regulatory Position 2.1. The estimate of expected costs will be considered deficient if the decommissioning cost estimate is less than the decommissioning trust requirement and adequate justification is not provided. If the decommissioning trust is not fully funded, licensees should include a discussion of the plans for adjusting the level of funds to demonstrate that funds will be available for use when needed. 1. PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE PRIOR TO THE END OF OPERATIONS The preliminary cost estimate, required by 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2), must be submitted at or about five years before the projected end of operations. The intent of this preliminary estimate is to provide the NRC with an up-to-date estimate of decommissioning costs and identify major factors that would impact the cost of the decommissioning. (The licensee already will have submitted a cost estimate for establishing a fund for decommissioning as required by 10 CFR 50.75(b). This estimate will have been revised periodically during operation and may be used in preparing the preliminary cost estimate.) The preliminary cost estimate identifies shortfalls in decommissioning funding. The projected end of operations need not be the same as the expiration date of the operating license if a licensee chooses to permanently cease operations at an earlier date. In some cases, a licensee may shut down prematurely and submit its certification of permanent cessation of operations, as required by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1), more than five years prior to the expiration date of the operating license. In this event, the requirement of 10 CFR 50.75(f)(2) to submit a preliminary cost estimate becomes applicable at the time the licensee dockets its certification of permanent