Advanced Reactor Highlights - All

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.

On March 25, 2024, the NRC staff issued Regulatory  Guide 1.253, “Guidance for a Technology-Inclusive Content-of-Application Methodology to Inform the Licensing Basis and Content of Applications for Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Non-Light-Water Reactors,” and nine Advanced Reactor Content of Application Project (ARCAP) interim staff guidance documents.

On March 14, the NRC staff continued its public workshops on the Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Licensing Framework for Advanced Reactors in a hybrid meeting with representatives from industry, the national laboratories, and others.  The workshop is part of the agency’s efforts to streamline reviews of future license applications and to ensure common understanding between the NRC staff and prospective applicants. This workshop continued discussions related to specific industry questions regarding the Licensing Modernization Project (LMP) implementation for the design of I&C systems. As an outcome from this meeting, a future tabletop session was proposed to examine realistic I&C system scenarios implementing the LMP methodology. The NRC will continue to offer additional workshops on the advanced reactor I&C framework, as requested. More information on digital I&C and public workshop summaries.

On March 12, 2024, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the United Kingdom Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to increase collaboration on the technical reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor technologies. Under the terms of this MOC, CNSC, ONR, and U.S. NRC may take each other’s experiences, regulatory information and results into account when conducting technology assessments for the purposes of feedback to vendors or making recommendations for regulatory decisions. More information on the MOC.

On February 29, 2024, the NRC staff published RG 4.7, Revision 4, “General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations” (89 FR 14743) which describes the major site characteristics related to public health and safety and environmental issues that the NRC staff considers in determining the suitability of sites for commercial nuclear power stations.
 

On February 27, 2024, the NRC staff submitted SECY-24-0020, “Advanced Reactor Program Status,” to update the Commission on progress made during calendar year 2023 on the staff's advanced reactor licensing and readiness activities, such as addressing key technology-inclusive rulemaking and policy issues, interactions with current and prospective applicants and other stakeholders, and continued development of the expertise and regulatory processes necessary to allow innovation and the commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors.