Page 99 - Beyond Decommissioning

80 Beyond Decommissioning

In an NPP, preservation could be a useful approach, but difficult to achieve on a
large scale. It would require the retention of SSCs that are normally removed during
decommissioning. The materials, often radiologically contaminated, would be hard
and costly to safely maintain, stabilize, or replace with similar materials. However,
preserving an isolated part of a large facility (e.g., a cooling tower) or a small facility
is possible and should be evaluated for reuse. By saving this link to the past history, the
knowledge of the site is consolidated and remains available to the public.

“Rehabilitation
is defined as the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through
repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey
its historical, cultural, or architectural values. The Rehabilitation Standards acknowledge
the need to alter or add to a historic building to meet continuing or new uses while retaining
the building’s historic character.”

In this option historical features and fabric are retained, but new construction and new
uses are allowed. The new construction must harmonize with the existing structures
and keep existing spatial relationships. For example, erecting a massive building next
to a small, historic farmhouse would not be admissible. The new construction could be
removed at a later stage but should not impact the historic structures.
Rehabilitation allows for more freedom than the other three approaches. Rehabil-
itation and preservation are those ones most applicable to a NPP. The keeping of an
historic feature or structure is possible, and the construction, for example, of a visitor
center or museum could be added. The new construction should blend in materials and
size, and allow for continued use of a site that would otherwise remain idle.
“Restoration
is defined as the act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a
property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features
from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration
period. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a resto-
ration project. The Restoration Standards allow for the depiction of a building at a particular
time in its history by preserving materials, features, finishes, and spaces from its period of
significance and removing those from other periods.”
In this approach, a period of restoration is selected, and the structure and site is
restored to its appearance during this period. Before any work is carried out, the site
is documented for its pre-restoration appearance, and any historical fabric is identified
and preserved. Features that are not part of the restoration period are removed to pro-
vide a coherent appearance and understanding. As in reconstruction, documentary evi-
dence is used to support decisions.
Restoration is useful when there is evidence for what existed during a selected
period of significance. A site where change has altered the appearance of a site sig-
nificantly from this period of significance could select restoration, but have to be will-
ing to remove features that may later prove to be of interest.
NPPs are changing all time as technology and requirements change. Upgrades to
SSC are made, and it would be difficult to determine what a period of significance
would be. A plant’s purpose is to generate energy and this will remain throughout