NUCLEAR POWER-REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING

This article summarizes the major findings of an evaluation of several alternatives for decommissioning 1100-MW(e) nuclear power reactors. The evaluation included the technical feasibility of decommissioning and the costs, schedule, environmental impacts, and occupational exposures for three decommissioning alternatives: mothballing, entombment, and prompt removal of radioactive components and dismantling. In addition, two combinations of these alternatives were evaluated: mothballing - delayed removal and dismantling and entombment - delayed removal and dismantling. The evaluation demonstrated that no new technology is required to safely decommission a large power reactor. The prompt removal of radioactive components and dismantling alternative is the highest in cost, requiring approximately 50 million and approximately 6 years to remove all structures at the end of useful life. The radiation exposures and environmental impacts are low for all the alternatives so that decommissioning can be accomplished without undue risk to public health and safety.