Environmental Impact Assessment of the Drawdown of the Chernobyl NPP Cooling Pond as a Basis for Its Decommissioning and Remediation

This publication provides technical and scientific information regarding the radiation monitoring, radio-ecological research and management of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) cooling pond. It focuses on the assessment of the environmental and radiological conditions after the pond drawdown, as a basis for justification of the decommissioning and remediation strategy for the pond. Special attention is paid to the analyses of remedial actions to reduce ongoing or potential doses to members of the public and staff of the ChNPP due to radiological impacts resulting from the drawdown of water level in the pond. The publication also outlines practical experience gained throughout the cooling pond decommissioning project, which started in 2014 and continues until the present. It presents data from a monitoring programme, comparing modelling predictions of the dynamics of the cooling pond drainage and related radiological and ecological impacts, with the consequences of the drawdown of the water level in the cooling pond that were actually observed. Additionally, the publication summarizes lessons learned and addresses outstanding issues.