Proposed safeguards and security during future decommissioning of Ontario Hydro's reactors

A regulatory requirement for the re-licensing of Ontario Hydro's operating CANDU reactors is a documented conceptual decommissioning plan, including safeguards and security. The present conceptual decommissioning plan calls for all irradiated fuel to be transported off-site after ≥ 10 years of the start of reactor decommissioning to a centralized storage and/or disposal center. With no published IAEA guidelines specifically on decommissioning safeguards and security, the provisions proposed are based on general IAEA requirements, safeguards and security practice during reactor operation, and experience with the decommissioning of AECL reactors. Safeguards are required for irradiated fuel, not for heavy water or tritium. The application of materials accounting, in-situ irradiated fuel verification, and containment and surveillance procedures is discussed