Sites with radioactive contamination may require action to protect people and the environment and to enable transition to a different future use. To support environmental management of these sites, this publication presents a process to determine the “end state” of the site to be remediated or being remediated, and implications for the site future use and necessary controls. The approach is intended to assist those responsible for a site in making an informed and transparent decision on what is the mutually agreed end state. It provides a common basis for all stakeholders involved in the decision-making process, who are working on achieving consensus, so that the potential for misunderstanding is reduced.

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Objective
  • 1.3. Scope
  • 1.4. Structure
• 2. KEY CONCEPTS RELEVANT TO END STATE DETERMINATION
  • 2.1. Exposure situation in the context for end state determination and associated criteria
  • 2.2. Policy and strategies in the determination of site end state
  • 2.3. Justification of environmental remediation
  • 2.4. Optimization of protection and safety
  • 2.5. Sustainability of environmental remediation
  • 2.6. Future uses of sites
• 3. PROCESS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR DETERMINING THE END STATE OF A SITE
  • 3.1. Recognize and scope the issue and responsibilities
  • 3.2. Describe site context, uncertainties and challenges
    • 3.2.1. Physical state of the site — the role of the conceptual site model
    • 3.2.2. Social, economic and environmental context
    • 3.2.3. Site specific challenges
    • 3.2.4. Site specific sources of uncertainty
  • 3.3. Identify key values, drivers and external constraints
    • 3.3.1. Values and drivers
    • 3.3.2. External factors
  • 3.4. Compile end state options and implications for future use and controls
  • 3.5. Screening options
  • 3.6. Evaluation of options
    • 3.6.1. Assessment approach and evaluation criteria
    • 3.6.2. Holistic life cycle assessment
  • 3.7. Document all decisions and develop a plan to implement the end state
  • 3.8. Developing a plan to implement the end state
• 4. CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESS
  • 4.1. National policy and legal and regulatory requirements
  • 4.2. Consideration of radiological and non-radiological factors and other site conditions
  • 4.3. Liability factors
  • 4.4. Dealing with uncertainty
  • 4.5. Building confidence in the decision
  • 4.6. Site complexity
• 5. CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
• CONSTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW
• STRUCTURE OF THE IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES