Title: Critical issues with 'minor league' nuclear infrastructures: the back end of the life cycle

Authors: Dan V. Vamanu, Adrian V. Gheorghe, Valentin T. Acasandrei, Bogdan I. Vamanu

Addresses: 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Str. Atomistilor No. 407, P.O. Box MG-6, Bucharest – Magurele, Romania. ' Old Dominion University, 241 Kaufman Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA. ' 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Str. Atomistilor No. 407, P.O. Box MG-6, Bucharest – Magurele, Romania. ' 'Horia Hulubei' National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Str. Atomistilor No. 407, P.O. Box MG-6, Bucharest – Magurele, Romania

Abstract: The paper attempts to draw attention to a number of issues that may go underplayed on the agenda of the critical infrastructure analysts concerned with risks: the vulnerabilities induced by nuclear research facilities facing decommissioning. The notion that the |small nuclear| facility may show, in such circumstances, sizeable risks, even in comparison with the |big nuclear| facility, in consideration of the fact that a higher probability of abnormality may compensate the relatively lower consequence factor in the risk equation is offered for consideration. The findings are believed to be particularly true in resource- and management-deficient, safety-subcultural, and geopolitically-uncertain environments.

Keywords: research reactors; nuclear decommissioning; health impact; environmental impact; nuclear hazards; nuclear risk; critical infrastructures; vulnerabilities; abnormalities; nuclear safety; small nuclear reactors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2008.020157

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2008 Vol.4 No.4, pp.368 - 391

Published online: 03 Sep 2008 *

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