The New Canadian Standard In Decommissioning - N294-09: Decommissioning Of Facilities Containing Nuclear Substances

Abstract

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) released the first edition of the N294 Standard, Decommissioning of facilities containing nuclear substances, in English in 2009 July and in French in 2011 January.

The Standard was developed to provide direction to Canadian groups that are decommissioning facilities and sites that have been used for activities involving nuclear substances. The Standard is intended to be consistent with Canadian and international recommendations. It incorporates current best practices and existing regulatory requirements, and draws on the decommissioning experience of the Canadian nuclear industry.

The Standard was developed by the CSA Technical Committee (TC) on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities, under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Strategic Steering Committee (NSSC). The TC includes experts from across the nuclear industry, government and regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders.

The paper outlines the rationale behind and content of the N294-09 Standard. The Standard applies to the decommissioning of licensed facilities and other locations where nuclear substances are managed, possessed, or stored. The Standard describes requirements and guidelines for the detailed decommissioning process in terms of four phases: planning, preparation, execution and completion. Annexes provide guidance on practical aspects such as preparing preliminary decommissioning plans, estimating decommissioning costs, conducting surveys, preparing end state reports, and on handling particular situations such as decommissioning mine waste rock and tailings, complex sites, and small facilities.

The Standard is now beginning to be applied through the site licences and associated handbooks issued by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). It will continue to be improved as experience accumulates.