New decommissioning system for nuclear power plants in Japan

The subject matter of this paper discusses the new decommissioning system for nuclear power plants in Japan, including the system for the disposal of demolition waste and the decommissioning cost allowance system. The Nuclear Regulations Law, established in 1957, ordering that decommissioning be carried out, it was naturally impossible to set proper safety regulations. While the present safety regulation system is focused on the regulations required for construction and operation, the legislation for the nuclear reactor facilities is not necessarily considered sufficient for decommissioning post-termination. Japan decided to revise a part of the Nuclear Regulations Law to prepare for a future of decommissioning. The point of the new decommissioning system is to change it from the current notification system of decommissioning procedures to an approval system, to adopt step-by-step safety regulations for the decommissioning phase and to establish positive involvement of the government in the decommissioning activities, which a nuclear licensee performs.