Decommissioning Nuclear Reactors

Background Before a company decides to close it’s power reactors the facility must be put in to a state that it no longer has a residual radioactive level, a clean up of all radioactive contaminated systems and structures, and the removal of radioactive fuel.

Decommissioning Strategies There are three main strategies to decommission a nuclear facility. The first, being the fastest, is known as DECON (Decommission). This is the immediate dismantlement of the facility and all parts of said facility are decontaminated to a safe level.

Safe Storage The second type is SAFSTOR, it takes longer than DECON and in this a nuclear facility is monitored until the radioactivity decreases to a level that allows the facility to be dismantled without decontamination requirements. Essentially storing the materials until deemed safe enough for removal.

Entombing The final type is ENTOMB. As the word suggests, this is where the structure become permanently encased by a material that would prevent the leaking of radioactive materials. Once the radioactive material decays to be considered harmless the property is released.