Nuclear decommissioning is the administrative and technical process leading to the irreversible closure of a nuclear facility such as a nuclear power plant (NPP), a research reactor, an isotope production plant, a particle accelerator, or uranium mine. It refers to the administrative and technical actions taken to remove all or some of the ...

This fact sheet explains the process of decommissioning a nuclear power plant after it is removed from service. This regulated process includes the removal and disposal of radioactive components and materials.

Nov 17, 2017 · Decontamination (DECON) is the relatively faster method of decommissioning a nuclear reactor and involves removing all fuel and equipment from the power plant. The fuel and equipment represent the bulk of the irradiated material on the site and are removed for separate storage and decontamination.

Jan 30, 2025 · The nuclear regulatory activities of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) include decommissioning nuclear facilities. This involves safely removing a facility or site from service and reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits the license to be terminated, with the property released either for unrestricted use or under ...

When a power company decides to close a nuclear power plant permanently, the facility must be decommissioned by safely removing it from service and reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the operating license.

The NRC and its Agreement States regulate the decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities, with the ultimate goal of license termination. These currently include the following facilities: Complex Materials Sites Undergoing Decommissioning; Power Reactor Sites Undergoing Decommissioning

Dec 21, 2023 · Decommissioning is a normal part of a nuclear facility’s lifetime and needs to be considered at the earliest stages of its development. As part of a facility’s initial authorization, a decommissioning plan is developed that demonstrates the feasibility of decommissioning and provides assurance that provisions are in place to cover the ...

How Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Works. After the closure of a nuclear power plant, the plant owner is accountable for reducing the site’s residual radioactivity to safe levels. The site must be decommissioned within 60 years of the plant closure. The decommissioning process involves: removing the used nuclear fuel from the reactor

Decommissioning is the last stage in the life cycle of a nuclear power plant. Planning for decommissioning begins at the design stage of the plant, to ensure that dismantling and associated waste management can be safely and effectively implemented without negatively impacting the environment.

DECON - soon after the nuclear facility closes, equipment, structures, and portions of the facility containing radioactive contaminants are removed or decontaminated to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the NRC license.