Under the Atomic Energy Act [33] (AtG) §7 — approving plant — para. 3, consent is required to decommission plant and safely contain the ultimately decommissioned plant or demolish plant or sections of plant.

Apart from the Atomic Energy Act, there are other statutory foundations and nuclear regulations to be considered:

— Radiation protection regulations (in German: StrSchV)

— Atomic Energy Act procedural regulations (in German: AtVfV)

— Law on environmental compatibility testing (in German: UVPG)

The ‘decommissioning guidelines’ (guidelines for decommissioning, safe containment and demolition of plant or plant components under §7 of the Atomic Energy Act) [34] are designed to bring the relevant aspects of approval and regulation together. It is also intended to create a common understanding between the Federal Government of Germany and Federal States on proper performance and harmonising existing views and methods.

There are also BMU guidelines, reactor safety committee (RSK) recommendations, Nuclear Safety Standards Committee rules (KTA), radiation protection committee (SSK) rules and relevant conventional rules to be taken into account when planning and implementing dismantling.