International Atomic Energy Agency

US NRC Research Reactor Decommissioning Regulations, Release Criteria and Guidance

R2D2P Workshop on Release of Buildlings and Sites/Final Survey Research Reactors

Eureka, CA September 28 - Oct 2, 2015

Bruce Watson, CHPChief, Reactor Decommissioning Branch

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

International Atomic Energy Agency

U. S. Research Reactor Experience Recent US Research Reactor License TerminationsCornell UniversityUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of Arizona University of IllinoisWorcester Polytechnic InstituteUniversity of MichiganResearch Reactors in DecommissioningState University of New York at BuffaloVeterans Affairs – OmahaGeneral Atomics (2)GETR

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International Atomic Energy Agency

US Radiological Release Criteria Unrestricted Release

• Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE) ≤ 25 mrem (0.25 mSv/a) and As Low As is Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)

• Average member of the critical group• All pathways• Period of performance - 1000 years

Restricted release• ≤ 25 mrem (0.25 mSv/a) TEDE and ALARA, with

institutional controls in effect• Legally enforceable institutional controls• If institutional controls fail, doses do not exceed 1

mSv/a, or 5 mSv/a, under specific circumstances• Financial assurance - independent third party• Licensee and NRC public input / outreach requirements

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International Atomic Energy Agency

From Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

1) 10 CFR 50.75(f)

Preliminary Decommissioning Plan

• Two years prior to end of operation

• Decommissioning Cost estimate and funding assurance

• Updated assessment of Decommissioning Factors

– Decommissioning Alternative (Strategy)

– Necessary Technical actions for safe decommissioning

– Waste disposal facilities

– Residual radioactivity criteria

– Site Specific factors

Research Reactor Decommissioning Requirements

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International Atomic Energy Agency

From Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

2) 10 CFR 50.82

Licensee must apply for license termination within 2 years

Application must include a proposed Decommissioning Plan (DP)

Detailed DP must be approved prior to start of activities

If decommissioning is not immediate, a separate decommissioning fund must be established

Research Reactor Decommissioning Requirements

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Required (Final) Decommissioning Plan Contents

Selected Decommissioning Alternative (Strategy) • Delays are to be minimal• Deferred dismantling is rare for RTRs• Description of activities involved

Description of controls and procedures

• For occupational and public health and safety

Description of planned final radiation survey

Updated cost estimate, and

• Evaluation of adequacy of funds

Description of Technical Specifications, including• Quality Assurance plans, and • Physical Security plans

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Decommissioning Plan ReviewRegulatory Guidance

•NUREG-1537, Part 2, Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Applications for the Licensing of Non-Power Reactors, Standard Review Plan and Acceptance Criteria, February 1996, Chapter 17•NUREG – 1757 Volume 2, Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance•NUREG – 1575, Multi-Agency Radiological Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM)•NUREG – 1507, Minimum Detectable Concentrations with Typical Radiation Survey Instruments for Various Contaminants and Field Conditions

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Decommissioning Plan Review Areas of Review

• Management and Organizational Structure• Methods, Techniques, and Equipment for radiological assessment• Methods, Techniques, and Equipment for removing contaminated

material• Methods for Controlling radioactivity for acceptable disposal• Methods for assessing and limiting personnel exposures to

radiation– i.e. monitoring & protecting from undue external exposure and

internal doses from ingestion, inhalation or skin contact• Methods, Techniques, and Equipment for accurately measuring low

exposure rates and concentrations of residual radioactivity• Approach and Format for reporting radiological information of final

radiation survey

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Decommissioning Plan Review, 2

Safety Evaluation Report (Safety Case)

DP must accomplish the following:• Show that the licensee will comply

with technical & regulatory requirements

• Describe methods to properly dispose of radioactivity

• Demonstrate that the licensee has resources needed to complete decommissioning

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International Atomic Energy Agency

NRC Decommissioning Plan Areas of Review

Summary

Activities• Alternative (Strategy)• Facility Radiological Status

– Operating History– Current Radiological Status– Release Criteria

• Tasks & Schedule• Organization and Responsibilities• Training• Contractor Assistance• Documents and Guides

Protection of Health & Safety of Workers and Public• Radiation Protection (ALARA-dose optimization)• Radioactive Waste Management (including fuel)

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International Atomic Energy Agency

NRC DP Areas of Review, 2

Radiological Accident Analyses

Proposed Final Radiation Survey Plan

Technical Specifications

Physical Security Plan

Emergency Plan

Environmental Report

Changes to the Decommissioning Plan• Procedures indicating when NRC approval will be

required.• Typically any change that could result in leaving more

residual radioactivity• See NUREG-1700 Appendix 2, for an example

References

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Thank You!

Questions???

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