Current NRC rules generally prohibit use of decommissioning trust funds for expenses not directly related to decommissioning, which does not begin until a plant has ended operations. The fund can only be accessed for planning purposes until the facility owner provides the agency with its post-shutdown decommissioning activities report, which is allowed up to two years after closure. To implement a different approach, a licensee would need a regulatory exemption to use decommissioning trusts for pre-closure disposal of major radioactive components such as retired reactor steam generators. The NRC is currently considering a company’s request to revise federal regulations to allow nuclear power plant operators to use their decommissioning trust funds for removal of major components prior to shutdown.
With its strong licensing and regulatory experience, EXCEL can support clients in developing exemption request packages, allowing them to use decommissioning trust funds, in cases where excess funds can be shown to exist. By removing radioactively contaminated equipment from power plants early, it reduces potential radiation exposure, and possibly shrinks the cost of decommissioning.
EXCEL can further enhance and optimize regulatory and engineering approaches to decommissioning activities in all phases. EXCEL has served as the Project Manager / Contractor for the multiple actions of several full decommissioning projects. As such, EXCEL has developed creative approaches based on best practices.
