Wins Guidance On Nuclear Security During Decommissioning

Since the inception of the nuclear industry, more than 100 commercial power reactors, 250 experimental or research reactors, and numerous fuel cycle facilities have been retired from operation. As of today, only some of these facilities have been fully dismantled. In addition, a generation of nuclear power plants built in the 1960s and 70s are nearing decommissioning. As a result, the need for information on security strategies at decommissioned facilitates has increased, compelling regulators and operators to re-evaluate their security requirements and operation processes while balancing safety and security objectives. Unfortunately, there has been little detailed guidance on this topic. To help address this problem, in November 2019, the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) conducted a two-day international workshop to review and discuss all security matters related to the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The key objective of the workshop was to (inter alia) review major security challenges related to each phase of the decommissioning process and identify best practices for mitigating those challenges early in the decommissioning planning process. Following the workshop, WINS developed an International Best Practice Guide on Nuclear Security During Decommissioning. The targeted audience for the guidance includes executives and other senior leaders, security managers, nuclear facility managers, and other managers who are either undertaking a decommissioning project or will be in the near future. The guidance outlines the stages of decommissioning, the potential security threats and challenges at each stage, and how to re-evaluate nuclear security requirements as the inventory of nuclear material reduces and the potential radiological consequences change. The guidance also supports operators in designing and implementing flexible and graded physical security arrangements, addressing cybersecurity threats, protecting sensitive facility security information, managing changes in the workforce (i.e. new personnel and background checks), maintaining a strong security culture, contingency planning, effectively integrating nuclear safety and safeguards requirements (including nuclear material accountancy and control) and complying with the high standards of operation that the nuclear industry demands. After review, readers should understand how an optimised security concept can be developed which is adaptable to the frequently changing conditions encountered during decommissioning.