Decontamination and decommissioning preparation of Oak Ridge National Laboratory research reactors

During the past seven years, four research reactors at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been shut down by the US Department of Energy (DOE) because of a lack of funding and mission. Before the reactors are eligible to receive DOE funding for decontamination and decommissioning (D and D), certain preparations are required, including resolution of significant environmental concerns. This paper describes the results of the D and D preparations for one of these four reactors, the Oak Ridge Research Reactor (ORR), with the emphasis on the environmental aspects. The three tasks that must be completed before a facility can be transferred to the D and D program are: Completion of environmental compliance, industrial safety, and radiological reviews; Removal of all spent fuel and nuclear material; and Assurance that buildings and support systems are structurally sound so as to permit deferred final decommissioning for up to five years