What is "decommissioning"?

Decommissioning is a controlled process used to safely retire a facility that is no longer needed. During decommissioning, radioactive and hazardous materials, equipment or structures are cleaned or secured so that the facility does not pose a risk to public health or the environment now or in the future.

A variety of techniques may be used at the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor to achieve desired cleanup levels. The decommissioning process may entail actions such as:

• Decontamination - In some cases, hazardous and radioactive contamination can be removed by cleaning or "scouring" surfaces or actually removing contaminated structures, equipment, components, and soil.
• Fixing or isolating contaminants - It is sometimes possible to apply coatings or other treatments that stabilize or fix contaminants in place. Also, contaminated areas can be enclosed or sealed off from the environment.
• Demolition and dismantlement - Decommissioning can involve tearing down structures and taking building components and equipment apart.
• Building conversion and reuse - If buildings are left in place, they can sometimes be converted for other uses after clean-up is completed.
• Waste management and disposal ­ Decommissioning can generate a large amount of waste and debris that must be safely managed and disposed. Some of the materials may also be suitable for salvage and recycling rather than disposal.

The techniques that are used depend on many variables including the type, location, and extent of contamination present. The particular actions to be taken at the BGRR will be chosen after a detailed evaluation of alternatives. The Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy are already seeking input from the public and from regulators such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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