Decommissioning commercial nuclear power plants. [Monograph]

The decommissioning of nuclear power plants is complicated by technical details as well as policies. This paper present the technological options and highlights alternatives to decommissioning, regulations, and financing as major policy questions. It concludes with the recommendation that utilities be required to submit plans for handling wastes and for decommissioning to focus public attention on the need for a permanent solution at the federal level. It also recommends the consideration of decommission in design criteria; rejects permanent mothballing and entombment, but recommends their use in conjunction with delayed dismantlement; and suggests that arrangements for financing should be part of state and federal regulatory policy, with top priority on public health and safety. 9 references. (DCK)