The purpose of decommissioning is to reduce the amount of plant related radioactivity on the site to a level that allows the site to be released for future use. It is often called "construction in reverse" because the plant is methodically removed piece by piece.

At Yankee Rowe, the majority of decommissioning is complete. Since 1993, more than 21 miles of piping and tubing, 1071 valves, 8,569 pipe hangers, 321 pumps, and 33 miles of conduit and cable tray have been removed. In addition, six large components weighing a total of more than 500 tons were also removed. Some of the material, including the large components, was sent to the Barnwell, S.C. low-level radioactive waste disposal facility for permanent disposal. Some of the metal was sent to a processing facility in Tennessee.

Safe storage of used fuel until it is removed by the DOE, building dismantlement, and demonstrating that we have met the Nuclear Regulatory Commission criteria for releasing the site are the key remaining activities at Yankee Rowe.