Advanced Reactor Highlights - All

On February 14 and 15, the staff held government-to-government meetings and a public outreach meeting to discuss NRC review processes in preparation for the planned X-energy/Dow Chemical construction permit application for deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 design at the Dow Seadrift operations site in Calhoun County, TX. There were approximately 70 people in attendance at the public outreach meeting. Interested in learning more visit:ML24086A299.

On January 24, 2024, the staff delivered SECY-24-0008 "Micro-Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations: Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory" to provide the Commission with options for regulating certain aspects of fuel loading and operational testing of commercial factory-fabricated micro-reactors. This paper also seeks Commission direction on whether a factory-fabricated micro-reactor that includes "features to preclude criticality" would require a facility operating license or a combined license when loaded with fuel.

Topics:

• Annual conference update
• Non-power production or utilization facility draft final rule
• Perspectives on options for special nuclear material rulemaking
• Information notice on research and test reactors
• Research and test reactor 50.59 guidance

Topics:

• Operating fleet updates
• Corporate update

Topics:

• Aurora X licensing activities, including white papers
• Potential reprocessing application

Topics:

• Regulatory and engineering update on integral molten salt reactor
• NRC cooperation with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Anticipated future interactions with NRC

Topics:

• Resources and training for the Agreement State Program
• Emergency preparedness for small modular reactor rulemaking
• Radioactive source security rulemaking
• Regulatory framework for fusion

Topics:

• U.S. Nuclear Industry Council Update
• Part 53