Advanced Reactor Highlights - 2024

On November 21, the NRC staff issued construction permits CPTR-7 and CPTR-8 to Kairos Power LLC (Kairos) authorizing construction of the two reactors for the Hermes 2 test reactor facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Issuance of the permits was authorized by Commission Order CLI 24-03.

On October 31, the Part 53 proposed rule was noticed in the Federal Register at 89 FR 86918, which would revise the NRC’s regulations by adding a risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive regulatory framework for commercial nuclear plants in response to the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). For more information on the NRC’s Part 53 rulemaking activities, visit the Part 53 – Risk Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors webpage.

On September 27, the NRC staff released a draft white paper on "Nth-of-a-Kind Micro-Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations", which discusses strategies to enhance regulatory clarity, reliability, and efficiency of licensing nth-of-a-kind micro-reactors (and potentially other technologies), considering rising stakeholder interest in rapid, high-volume deployment. The draft white paper will support planned engagement with the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards and a separate public meeting with stakeholders in November, which will inform the final development of a related notation vote paper.

On September 16, the NRC issued a construction permit (CP)  and associated safety evaluation (SE) to Abilene Christian University (ACU) for its Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) to be located on its campus in Abilene, Texas. The CP and SE were issued ahead of the September 30, 2024, public milestone and were completed within the published resource estimate. Learn More.

On August 30, the NRC staff issued the final Environmental Assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI)  regarding the construction permit application for the Kairos Power, LLC Hermes 2 test reactor project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The EA determined that the environmental impacts of construction of the Hermes 2 testing facility would be small and would not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Learn More.

On July 19, the NRC staff issued its safety evaluation (SE) for Kairos Power LLC’s construction permit (CP) application for its Hermes 2 non-power test reactor facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The staff leveraged the recently completed Hermes 1 CP application review to identify efficiencies in the review and complete the SE four months ahead of the 14-month review schedule. Learn More.

On May 21, the staff issued a letter notifying US SFR Owner, LLC (USO), a wholly owned subsidiary of TerraPower, LLC, that the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 construction permit application has been accepted and docketed for review. The application, submitted on March 28, proposes the construction of a one-unit reactor facility in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The staff will issue a subsequent letter outlining the schedule and resource estimates for the review. Learn More.

On May 14, the NRC staff held a public meeting with NOV Shepherd Power, BWX Technologies, and the Nuclear Energy Institute to discuss Shepherd Power’s licensing and business models for the use of micro-reactors for the oil and gas industry and other industrial applications. The NRC staff provided an overview of areas the staff is evaluating for “Nth-of-a-Kind” micro-reactor licensing. Stakeholders shared positive feedback with the NRC staff for its transformational and creative thinking in this area and discussed vendor and industry perspectives regarding “Nth-of-a-Kind” micro-reactor licensing topics for continued future consideration. To learn more see the NRC slides.

On April 22, the NRC staff published the Advanced Reactor Application Guidance webpage. This guidance tool provides references for a technology-inclusive, risk-informed and performance-based application. The tool supports applications to be submitted under 10 CFR Part 50 or Part 52, and supports the 10 CFR Part 53 rulemaking effort. It facilitates the efficient and effective licensing of advanced reactors, providing a guide for applicants and the staff on preparing and reviewing advanced reactor licensing applications. The staff will continue to update the tool as references are identified, updated, or developed.
 

On March 28, 2024, US SFR Owner, LLC (USO), a subsidiary of TerraPower, LLC (TerraPower), submitted a construction permit application for the proposed Natrium sodium fast reactor near Kemmerer, Wyoming. This project is supported by the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The NRC staff’s acceptance review of the application is ongoing. Learn More.