The beginnings: 1960s

Abstract

This chapter provides examples of the first decommissioning (or decommissioning-related) projects. It highlights some early issues that became recognized, routine decommissioning activities later. It expands on the decommissioning of the SL-1 reactor, whose tragic destruction marked the development of the nuclear industry. The chapter also gives detail of the fate of some first-generation reactors, which became technical museums or are anyway open to scheduled tours. The Appendix to this chapter expands on the evolution of decommissioning strategies from the early days until now: in particular, it shows that the entombment strategy was believed possible in the 1960s but has carried a stigma for many years now and is basically defunct in most countries (with some exceptions also highlighted in the chapter).