Decommissioning nuclear power plants: authority and policy issues

The present laws provide authorities with control of all aspects of radiological protection and safety in connection with decommissioning of nuclear power plants. However a law modification is needed if an earlier action than 2010 is claimed. Several reasons speak for decommissioning in close connection to reactor closing. Before any steps are taken it is however necessary to have an ultimate storage in operation for decommissioning wastes. Although there is today technique available that is sufficiently well established for decommissioning nuclear power plants, there are still reasons to adapt it to the specific Swedish circumstances. Also in other fields there are reasons for research and development. (O.S.)