Decommissioning a Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

Decommissioning is the process of taking a nuclear power plant out of operation and shutting it down permanently. Therefore, it is a key component of environmental stewardship in the use of nuclear energy. Major options of decommissioning include DECON (decommissioning through immediate dismantlement), SAFSTOR (delayed dismantlement and decommissioning) as well as the choice between unrestricted and restricted site release. This chapter describes the overall steps and activities of decommissioning toward site release and the factors affecting decommissioning decisions.