NP 615 - Facility Decommissioning and Site/Facility Closure

(1 unit)

Decommissioning and decontamination processes used for terminating site licenses at worldwide nuclear facilities. Details based on experience on steps, key decisions, planning, cost estimation, project management, waste management, and decommissioning and decontamination technology. This course is offered primarily at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois and may be occasionally offered at other authorized locations. Students are responsible for all national laboratory fees and expenses associated with the course location.

Maximum units a student may earn: 1

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or instructor permission is required. Basic knowledge of nuclear or environmental sciences and regulatory requirements for decommissioning nuclear or radioactive material handling & experimental facilities is required.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 1
Offered: Every Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. apply engineering research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
2. explain the need for thorough planning and optioneering from start to finish on the project including prior to strategy selection and start of field decommissioning activities.
3. demonstrate working knowledge of U.S. and other international regulations and technical processes used during decommissioning.
4. describe a graded approach in decommissioning using U.S. regulations in order to define needed depth of detailed planning and authorizations.
5. identify and summarize various technologies that can be used.
6. describe how waste management technologies and disposal sites should be utilized to provide optimized project performance during decommissioning.
7. describe the typical safety & health and environmental concerns for a typical decommissioning project.
8. demonstrate, through exercises, how to undertake planning for and develop appropriate plans for a decommissioning project.
9. engage with various stakeholders including regulators, elected officials, and the public.
10. perform, by working in teams, planning exercises based on a classroom decommissioning project, to show knowledge of the requirements and steps in the process.

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