Practical Training Course: Planning and Implementation of Nuclear Facility Decommissioning and Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Sites

Application Deadline for Nominee(s) of Invited IAEA Member States: 5 February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this training course is to provide implementing and regulatory organizations with a global understanding of the key aspects that need to be considered in the planning and implementation of decommissioning and environmental remediation (D&ER) projects. In line with the overall objectives of Technical Cooperation Project INT-9183, the training course will present those aspects that can constrain or delay project implementation and discuss potential mechanisms that can assist in overcoming these barriers focusing on regulatory and policy aspects, technological concerns as well as issues of human or financial resources and society.

Scope and Nature

The course will take place over a two-week period, providing lectures on key topics related to policy, regulatory, funding, project planning and management and overall technological/technical aspects including dismantling, decontamination, demolition and site clean-up works of contaminated facilities (land and building structures). Attention will also be paid to stakeholder communication and engagement related issues. Interactive exercises will allow meeting participants to put in practice the key concepts, methods and tools they have been exposed to.

The course will be supported by a wide range of IAEA Safety Standards and NE-Series Reports that are relevant to the topics of decommissioning and environmental remediation. These include, but are not restricted to:

• General Safety Requirements Part 3 (radiation protection and radiation source safety) 
• General Safety Requirements Part 5 (predisposal radioactive waste management) 
• Safety Standards Series WS-G-2.4 (facility decommissioning) 
• Safety Standards Series WS-G-3.1 (environmental remediation) 
• Nuclear Energy Series NW-G-2.1 (facility decommissioning) 
• Nuclear Energy Series NW-G-3.1 (environmental remediation) 

The CIDER Project Baseline Report (NW-T-1.10)  will also provide important elements for discussion during the course. Appropriate analytical and project management tools for the implementation and oversight, sound and cost-effective strategies in the fields of decommissioning and environmental remediation will be covered.

This course has been evolving for the last seven years. Although its core contents are the same, new elements are added every year and more weight has been continuously given to exercises and demonstration events.

The training modules will be presented using a format based on the proven learning sequence of lecture-, video- and field-observation and discussion. In addition, where applicable, IAEA resource documents such as guides, standards and technical reports will be used to support the lectures.

Over the two-week period the following topics will be addressed:

• Policies and strategies on D&ER and regulatory framework
• Project planning, management, cost-estimation and decision-making
• Site characterization, sampling, and analysis
• Safety assessment
• Stakeholder involvement and risk communication
• Data management
• Technology selection and deployment, proven and emerging technologies and materials for environmental remediation and decommissioning
• Site closure and long-term stewardship
• Other topics specifically of interest to each sub-group

In addition, the course will provide participants with details on IAEA networking opportunities, e.g. via the Environmental Management and Remediation Network (ENVIRONET) and International Decommissioning Network (IDN), their resources, and opportunities for assisting them.

It is anticipated that the course instructors will include staff from US organisations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.