WWR-S IFIN - HH research reactor decommissioning

The paper presents the issues referring to the decommissioning of WWR-S research reactor, built in 1957 and shut down at the end of 1997. There are given: - General data; - Reactor characteristics; - Radioactive inventory in spent fuel (calculated at the and of 1999); - Radioactive inventory due to the neutron activation; - Results of contamination measurements for reactor components as well as technological areas; - The commissioning strategy development under international projects. There is also presented the list of components which will not be dismantled according to the established strategy. The radioactive waste arose in decommissioning are categorized as: - Wastes from dismantling of the primary circuit; - Historical wastes from research as well as reactor operation; Wastes from dismantling of control-command system; Wastes from dismantling of hot cells. Except for radwastes from reactor internals which are due to neutron activation, all the wastes are resulting from radioactive contamination. Other issues discussed are related to the treatment, conditioning and radwaste storage.The cost evaluation, planning of decommissioning as well as the funding arrangements are also given in this contribution. The documentation which can be used in the process is divided in two parts, one already worked out and the other which is to be developed. The management of the project and the relationships with civil society as beneficiary of the decommissioning of obsolete risky facilities are considered important. Romanian Government supported R-D works referring to this objective by: Funding from state - Budget of research for defining the decommissioning strategy, for developing the computational methods as well as for radiological characterization of facilities, waste routes and influence area; - Great support for international cooperation (IAEA Vienna, PHARE, bilateral agreements), by TAP ROM/9/017, ROM/9/017/EXTENDED, PH04.1/1994. A special place in the development of the project has the Regulatory Body (CNCAN) as well as Ministry of Education and Research and Ministry of Water and Environment Protection. (author)