Page 160 - Beyond Decommissioning

Experience and lessons learned 141

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has been the 2013 sale of 0.15 km along the Salmon River to the US Fish and Wildlife
Service. The land has become part of the Salmon River Division of the Silvio O. Conte
National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. With the acquisition of a tract of the CY property,
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the Salmon River Division included 1.68 km of land by 2013. “The Salmon River
Division of the Conte refuge includes extensive beds of submerged aquatic vegetation,
which provides a multipurpose habitat for a large number of fish species, including
commercial finfish and shellfish. The cove where the Salmon River meets the Con-
necticut includes freshwater tidal wetlands, flats that provide migratory birds and
shorebirds with sources of food, water, and shelter and serve as bald eagle winter roost
and perch sites” (WNN, 2013).

6.1.3 Big Rock Point NPP, MI, USA (LaGuardia, 2012)

The site of Big Rock Point NPP proved to be more valuable for its real estate than
initially assumed. The site is situated adjacent to Lake Michigan. The local commu-
nity was a major attraction to recreational users, and the land was soon recognized as a
profitable investment for developers. Therefore, in the course of decommissioning,
the owner modified the planned end state from brownfield to greenfield, which facil-
itated the sale of the land for real estate investment. This entailed all subgrade struc-
tures to be fully removed and the site restored to pristine conditions. The additional
costs to change the site target were apparently worth.

6.1.4 Indian Point NPP, NY, USA (Lohud, 2018)
Two reactors at this site are still in operation, while Unit 1 was shutdown long ago. It is
interesting to note that a debate is already open on the reuse of the site: learning of the
social and economic impacts of final shutdown at other nuclear sites has prompted the
local stakeholders to seek solutions in good time. A consultant has identified three
plots of land (two of about 20 ha each and third of 7 ha) on the 100-ha property that
could be used to compensate for the tax revenues that the local communities will lose
after Indian Point shuts down in 2021. This approach would require that the three par-
cels be delicensed, a decision to be approved by the NRC: the potential safety-related
interactions between the redeveloped sites and adjacent decommissioning activities
will have to be evaluated. One parcel includes 20 wooded ha that would likely have
to be environmentally reviewed for the impact redevelopment would have on wildlife.
The second 20-ha parcel includes the nuclear operator’s training building as well as
rights of way for electrical and gas transmission lines. One of the proposed parcels is
situated beside the ISFSI.
The three parcels could be redeveloped for residential, commercial, and industrial
use. The consultant suggested possible uses could include power generation plants for
natural gas or renewable sources like solar and wind as well as facilities to store
energy. Commercial uses could include offices or a marina (the site is located along
the Hudson River).
No decision has been taken yet on the extent of redevelopment that would be
allowed while the plant is being decommissioned.