Reactor Decommissioning History
Humboldt Bay 3
revised 2010-03-02

Overview

Humboldt Bay Unit 3 is a 65MWe BWR in Eureka, California. Commercial operations was achieved in 1963. Final reactor operation was July 1976 when it was shut down for seismic modification. Because of economic reasoning, it was decided in 1983 to decommission the unit.

Units 1 and 2 are fossil fuel plants and are also being decommissioned. Unit 3 is in SAFSTOR but close to beginning reactor internals D&D work. Fuel is stored in dry casks on site (ISFSI loading began 2008). Decontamination and disposal of some large nuclear components have begun (such as steam condenser).

Reactor decommissioning activities is estimated by us to begin late 2010 at the earliest. The "mood" from site is that the reactor and internals will be segmented and disposed of in liners. Final disposal is desired to be off site. Please note that we have no official source to document this information at this time.

The NRC expects D&D complete 12/31/2013.

Reactor Decommissioning Specifics

Internals Removal
Unknown at this time, but segmentation and shipping off-site is being discussed.

Reactor Vessel Removal
Unknown at this time, but segmentation and shipping off-site is being discussed.

Segmentation and Packaging Plan (S&P Plan)
Plan unknown.

Key People
Kerry Rod (PG&E D&D Project Manager)

Contractors
PG&E is doing much of the work at this time.

Comments
Because of Lessons Learned for the SONGS-1 RV disposal (shipping off-site did not go as planned), PG&E is hesitant for an intact vessel removal. No decision has been made, but segmentation of reactor and internals is being considered.

Related Publications and Documents
Unknown.

References
Wikipedia web page as of Feb 22, 2010.
NRC web page as of Feb 22, 2010.
Conversations with site people Jan 2010 and Feb 2010.

Click here for the "scheduled" Reactor D&D main page.
Click here for the past and current Reactor D&D main page.