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:
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 the date by which the facility will permanently cease operations. 2. Certification of Permanent Removal of Fuel Once the fuel is permanently removed from the reactor vessel, 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1)(ii) and 10 CFR 52.110(a)(2) require the licensee to submit a written certification to the NRC, consistent with the requirements in 10 CFR 50.4(b)(9) and 10 CFR 52.3(b)(9), stating the date on which the fuel was permanently removed from the reactor vessel and the disposition of the fuel. For example, the licensee should state whether the spent fuel was transferred to another 10 CFR Part 50 or 10 CFR Part 52 licensee, placed in the facility’s SFP, or stored in an ISFSI. This certification must be submitted under oath or affirmation. DG-1347 Revision 1, Page 12 Although the regulations may require the licensee to submit the certification of permanent cessation of operations before it permanently shuts down the facility, the regulations require the licensee to submit the certification of permanent removal of fuel only after all the fuel has been removed from the reactor vessel. In 10 CFR 50.2, the NRC defines permanent fuel removal for a nuclear power reactor facility as “a certification by the licensee to the NRC that it has permanently removed all fuel assemblies from the reactor vessel.” 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). There are no requirements on the time interval between the decision to permanently cease operations and the submittal of the certification of permanent fuel removal. However, until the NRC has received the certification of