Slowpoke Reactor Decommissioning Requirements, Processes and Lessons Learned

Abstract

The SLOWPOKE-2® nuclear reactors located in Dalhousie University and University of Alberta were decommissioned in 2011 and 2017 respectively.Decommissioning processes require detailed planning from every aspect of site work. Nuclear regulations require that the dismantling process is executed safely considering conventional and radiological hazards. A suite of documentation supporting a safe execution plan is needed to obtain a License to Decommission. Dismantling of the facility is performed by progressively removing the reactor core and other radioactive components as well as safely managing the balance of contaminated materials around the reactor to achieve a “greenfield” status.This paper will discuss the decommissioning processes and the licenses required to successfully achieve a “greenfield” status. It will address how safety tools and lessons learned were successfully employed to execute complex projects with no lost time injuries, on-time and on-budget.