The decommissioning of nuclear power stations as seen from the public authorities' point of view

The existing laws and regulations governing the decommissioning of nuclear installations in the broadest sense are incomplete and present a mixed showing. Even for all those installations to which the provisions of section 7, sub-sec. (1) Atomic Energy Act apply, there is no uniform regulatory pattern, and facts requiring licensing, as e.g. those defined by section 7, sub-sec. (3) Atomic Energy Act, or the term 'installation', or the decontrolling standards for solid wastes and non-aqueous liquids, are not clearly defined and have to be specified anew in every licensing procedure. As to the procedural law, the differentiation made in section 4, sub-sec. (5) AtVfV relating to the participation of the public in licensing procedures, does not seem to be justified. There obviously is need for complementing the existing technical and regulatory provisions by clearly defined, task-specific provisions governing the dismantling activities after shutdown. (orig.)