Decommissioning Of Small Medical Industrial And Research Facilities

This report proves information, experience and assistance on the decommissioning of small medical, industrial and research nuclear facilities in which radioactive material and radiation sources are produced, received, used and/or stored. It is intended to promote timely and cost effective decommissioning and waste management at the end of the life of a small facility so as to render such a facility harmless.

At a time when many older facilities are being decommissioned and many more are undergoing major retrofits to extend their lives, there is a wealth of information emerging to guide the design of new facilities. In this publication, the most important lessons learned in recent years are examined.

Most countries use or handle radioactive material in some manner, whether in nuclear power plants or nuclear fuel cycle facilities, medical research laboratories or manufacturing plants. This publication summarises the decommissioning activities undertaken around the world, as well as considering those that are currently under way and those that will need to be performed in the future. The aim of the book is to assess future levels of resources that will be needed to support decommissioning activities around the world and to identify issues that may need to be addressed. The book will be of interest to regulators, engineers and planners as a basis for developing a regulatory infrastructure and implementing a decommissioning programme. A CD-ROM is included containing details of the location, type and status of nuclear power plants, research reactors, fuel cycle facilities and particle accelerators along with relevant associated data.

This is the first report published by the IAEA which provides guidance on the preparation and implementation of the decommissioning of different types of research reactor. Different construction and operational features of research reactors have a major impact on the decommissioning techniques required. This report offers information on the conclusions drawn from a number of completed projects and identifies their similarities and differences. It is complemented by a computerized research reactor databank. Staff requirements, decommissioning costs waste activity are presented graphically according to reactor thermal power and integrated energy.

In the coming decades a large number of nuclear facilities will reach the end of their useful lives and require decommissioning. Many of these facilities will be decommissioned with the aim of either replacing them with new facilities that serve the same purpose or reusing the site for another, completely different purpose. By recognizing and promoting the redevelopment potential of facilities and their sites at the design stage or earlier in their operating life, it is possible to enhance the prospects for worthwhile redevelopment, offsetting the costs of decommissioning and ensuring that best use is made of the material, land and human resources associated with each facility. A range of factors to consider has been identified and illustrated using case studies drawn from Member States, and practical guidance has been provided for involved parties to help promote successful and effective redevelopment of decommissioned nuclear installations in the future.

Describes the rationale and vision for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The publication identifies the basic principles that nuclear energy systems must satisfy to fulfil their promise of meeting growing global energy demands.

Cost estimation for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities can vary considerably in format, content and practice both within and across countries. These differences may have legitimate reasons but make the process of reviewing estimates complicated and the estimates themselves difficult to defend. Hence, the joint initiative of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission (EC) was undertaken to propose a standard itemisation of decommissioning costs either directly for the production of cost estimates or for mapping estimates onto a standard, common structure for purposes of comparison. This report updates the earlier itemisation published in 1999 and takes into account experience accumulated thus far. The revised cost itemisation structure has sought to ensure that all costs within the planned scope of a decommissioning project may be reflected. The report also provides general guidance on developing a decommissioning cost estimate, including detailed advice on using the structure.