Guidance: Decommissioning of nuclear sites and release from regulation

This guidance explains how operators of nuclear sites should prepare for the surrender of their radioactive substances permits. An operator cannot surrender a permit until they have completed all work to decommission and clean up their sites.

The guidance describes the standards that operators must meet before they can surrender permits – including when they have disposed of radioactive waste from the final stages of decommissioning on site.

The Environment Agency has produced this guidance with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Natural Resources Wales.