BN-350 NPP regulatory aspects of decommissioning

The fast breeder reactor BN-350 was commissioned in 1973. In 1999 the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted Decree on the Decommissioning of Reactor. Since the decision on the decommissioning was accepted before end of scheduled service life (2003), to this moment 'The Decommissioning Plan' was not worked out. As the shut downed reactor continues to remain a source of nuclear and radiation hazard, one have to take measures on putting the reactor to safe status, and thus 'Plan of priority measures on BN-350 reactor decommissioning' was developed. It includes following activities: - Measures on BN-350 decommissioning Project development; - Measures on provision the reactor safety during transition period; - Measures on spent fuel disposal for a long-term storage; - Measures on sodium drainage and utilization. This paper describes the current situation in Kazakhstan with regard to the decommissioning of the BN-350 reactor and some aspects, which the Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Committee (as a regulatory body) encountered for the regulation of decommissioning activities. (author)