ML19088A048

Slides Entitled, the Us Nrc'S Power Reactor Decommissioning Process Presentation at the 2019 Meem Lecture, University of Virginia.

ML19088A048
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Issue date:	04/11/2019
From:	Leah Parks Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs
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L PARKS DUWP
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Download: ML19088A048 (38)

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The US NRCs Power Reactor Decommissioning Process 2019 UVA Meem Lecture April 11, 2019 Leah Parks, PhD, P.E.

Division of Uranium Recovery and Waste Management Programs Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1

Mission Vision Nuclear Advance, technology foster, andisspur embraced the development for its vital contributions and application to improving of nuclear peoples science, lives and engineering,preserving and technology our planet.

to benefit society.

2

3 Guiding Objectives

• Accelerate member professional development

• Promote innovation in nuclear technology

• Excel in engaging and informing the public and students

• Advocate for nuclear technology 4

5 Outline

• Reactor decommissioning regulatory options (DECON versus SAFSTOR)

• Overview of the License Termination Rule

• Decision factors influencing shutdown of reactors and decommissioning approach

• Public involvement opportunities in the process

• Update on the decommissioning rulemaking

• Current status of nuclear power plants undergoing decommissioning and recent experience with early closings

• Recent business transaction models (transferring of licenses) 6

Protecting People and the Environment The NRC licenses and regulates the Nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety and to promote the common defense and security and to protect the environment.

7

License Termination Rule Decommission (10 CFR 20 Subpart E)

To remove (as a facility) safely from service and reduce radioactivity to a level that permits:

1. Release of the property for unrestricted use and termination of the license; or

2. Release of the property under restricted conditions and termination of the license 8

NRC Unrestricted Release Criteria

• 25 mrem (.25 mSv) per year to an average member of the critical group (a fraction of the public dose limit)

• Includes all pathways

• Residual radioactivity levels that are as low as reasonably achievable or ALARA 9

Dose Pathways 10

NRC Decommissioning Experience 12 10 8

6 4

2 0

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Materials Sites Research Reactors Power Reactors 11

Decommissioned Sites

• Rancho Seco, 2009 Oyster Creek

• Big Rock Point, 2007

• Haddam Neck, 2007

• Pathfinder, 2007

• Yankee Rowe, 2007

• Trojan, 2005

• Maine Yankee, 2005

• Saxton, 2005

• Shoreham, 1995

• Fort Saint Vrain, 1997

• Shippingport, 1988 12

Phases of Decommissioning 13

Key Decommissioning Milestones

• Permanent Ceasing of Operations Certification

• Certification of Nuclear Fuel has been permanently removed from the Reactor

• Post Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR)

• Decommissioning/Environmental Remediation

• License Termination Plan

• Final Status Survey

• NRC Confirmatory Study

• Termination/Reduction of Part 50 License 14

Public Involvement

• Post Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) Meeting

• License Termination Plan Meeting

• Opportunity for Hearing

• Technical Meetings between NRC and Licensee 15

Decommissioning Strategies

• DECON

• SAFSTOR

• Power reactors have up to 60 years to complete decommissioning and terminate their licenses once they have certified that they have shutdown.

16

What NRC decommissioning regulations do not require

• Dismantlement of decontaminated buildings and/or site restoration

• Non-radiological decommissioning

- Non-radiological hazards are covered by

• US EPA (hazardous/chemical materials & rad)

• US OSHA for occupational hazards

• State authorities for hazardous materials, resource protection, site restoration, rad below NRC standards 17

Examples: Unrestricted Release Sites 18

Maine Yankee - Prior to Decommissioning 19

Maine Yankee - Active Decommissioning 20

Maine Yankee - Post Decommissioning 21

Rancho Seco - Post Decommissioning 22

Zion - Active Decommissioning 23

Zion - Reactor Vessel on Railcar 24

Trojan - Reactor Vessel Removal 25

Trojan - Reactor Vessel Package 26

Rancho Seco - Class B/C Shipment 27

SONGS - Reactor Vessel Package 28

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Streams (Fort Calhoun example)

Energy Solutions Clive, UT (Class A)

- Resins/Filter

- Direct Burial Containerized Waste

- Bulk Waste (Contaminated Soil and Concrete)

- Reactor Waste Bear Creek - Oak Ridge, TN (Class A)

- Dry Active Waste and Metal Processing Waste Control Specialists - Andrews County, TX (Class B/C)

- Reactor Waste

- Resins and Irradiated Hardware Geologic Disposal - Federal Facility (GTCC)

- Reactor Waste 29

Low-Level Radioactive Waste by Volume (Fort Calhoun example)

Near Surface Disposal -

Class A - 40%

Class B - 0.001%

Class C - 0.002%

Processed/Conditioned (off-site recycling center)

Class A - 60%

Geologic Disposal -

Greater that Class C - 0.002%

Total Volume - 507,118 ft3 30

Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning

• Provide an appropriate regulatory framework for nuclear power reactors transitioning from operations to decommissioning.

• Provide for a safe, effective, and efficient decommissioning process;

• Reduce the need for license amendment requests and exemptions from existing regulations

• Address other decommissioning issues deemed relevant by the NRC

• Align regulatory requirements with the reduction in risk that occurs over time, while continuing to maintain safety and security Rulemaking was previously titled, "Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning." 31

Rulemaking Timetable Action Date FR Citation ANPRM 11/19/2015 80 FR 72358 ANPRM Extension of Comment Period 12/28/2015 80 FR 80709 ANPRM Comment Period End 01/04/2016 ANPRN Extension of Comment Period End 03/18/2016 Draft Regulatory Basis 03/15/2017 82 FR 13778 Draft Regulatory Basis Comment Period End 06/13/2017 Final Regulatory Basis 11/27/2017 82 FR 55954 NPRM 10/00/2018 Final Rule 12/00/2019 Docket ID: NRC-2015-0070 32

Decommissioning Challenges

• Mixed sites (operational and shutdown facilities)

• Exemption from 60 year limit for power reactors

• Partial release of the site

• Subsurface contamination (Decommissioning Planning Rule)

• Rubblization

• Non-radiological contamination

• Industrial Hazards

• Multiple regulators

• Maintaining a safety culture after shutdown

• Stakeholder engagement (advisory groups) 33

Supporting Stakeholder Engagement

• Public Meetings

• Tribal, State and Local Government Meetings

• Congressional Briefings 3

4

Future of Decommissioning

• To date, all the power reactors that have entered decommissioning have not operated to the end of their license term

• 10* power reactors have terminated their licenses after meeting the NRCs criteria for unrestricted release

• 21 power reactors are in decommissioning

• 12 power reactors have announced they will permanently cease operations in the next few years 35

Future of Decommissioning https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-the-us-nuclear-power-plants-at-risk-of-shutting-down 36

37 NRC Reactor Decommissioning Summary

• Increasing number of plants entering decommissioning in the United States, and the NRC is focused on the safe transition of these plants from operation to decommissioning

• The NRC has a strong decommissioning regulatory framework, and is working to make that framework more efficient by conducting a rulemaking

38 Thank You!

Questions?