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Collaborative Projects with Canada

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Information on joint reports that have been issued can be found on the Joint Reports page.

Cooperation in Pre-application Review Activities for Advanced Reactors

This activity serves as a platform for establishing and testing regulatory cooperation processes using specific case studies from a design under development, being reviewed in both Canada and the US.

CNSC and USNRC will each assess how the design is addressing regulatory requirements in each country and share experiences in a collaborative fashion.

Design: Terrestrial Energy's Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR ©)

Vendor engagement with regulators in U.S. and Canada

Terrestrial Energy USA is engaged in pre-application interactions with the NRC and submitted a white paper proposal to the NRC related to Postulated Initiating Events (PIEs).  CNSC is performing a Phase 2 Vendor Design Review with Terrestrial Energy Inc.

Key Activities

CNSC and USNRC performed a collaborative review of Terrestrial Energy USA’s white paper on Postulated Initiating Events for its Integral Molten Salt Reactor.

A joint report was issued ML22139A124 which summarized the findings of the CNSC and USNRC collaborative work and can be used in each regulator's review process.

Design: X-energy's Xe-100

Vendor engagement with regulators in U.S. and Canada

X-energy is engaged in a combined Phase 1 and 2 Vendor Design Review with the CNSC and in pre-application interactions with USNRC.  CNSC and NRC staff are currently reviewing a white paper from X-energy that outlines the regulatory and technical aspects of choosing a Construction Code for the Xe-100 Reactor Pressure Vessel commensurate with its safety functions.

Key Activities

CNSC and USNRC issued a joint report with observations on the white paper. ML21166A304

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Sharing Regulatory Insights from the Technical Review of the NuScale SMR Design Certification Review

Design: NuScale Power, LLC's (NuScale's) small modular reactor (SMR) design

Objective/Scope

To share regulatory experiences and insights for the NuScale SMR design

Vendor engagement with regulators in U.S. and Canada

NRC approved a design certification for the NuScale SMR. NuScale is in the early phases of the combined Phase 1 & 2 Vendor Design Review with the CNSC.

Key Activities

CNSC and NRC staff are exchanging information on key areas of the NuScale design.

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Cooperation in Pre-application Review Activities Pertinent to Small Modular Reactors

Design: GE Hitachi's (GEH's) small Modular Reactor BWRX-300

Vendor engagement with regulators in U.S. and Canada

GEH has begun pre-application activities with USNRC and a Combined Phase 1 & 2 Vendor Design Review project with CNSC.

Key Activities

In September 2022, the USNRC and CNSC signed a Charter that establishes the collaborative relationship and the work to be done by CNSC and USNRC on the BWRX-300 SMR design project. CNSC and USNRC will develop work plans to identify specific deliverables under this charter, conduct coordinated and efficient technical reviews within established schedules, and strive to align on common regulatory technical positions that enhance standardization of the GEH BWRX-300 SMR design. Current topics under collaborative review are: Safety Strategy, Fuel Verification and Validation, and Advanced Construction Techniques.

Previously, CNSC and USNRC performed a collaborative review of the licensing topical report on the BWRX-300 Containment Evaluation Method and exchanged information on safety review methodologies, regulatory approaches, and treatment of unique aspects of the BWRX-300 Containment Evaluation Method.

A joint report was issued (ML22091A201) which summarized the findings of the CNSC and USNRC collaborative work and can be used in each regulator's review process.

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Develop Guidance for Staff Review of New Build License Applications for Advanced Reactor Projects

Tristructural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel qualification assessment

Objective/Scope: CNSC and USNRC staff will work together to establish a common regulatory position on TRISO fuel qualification based on existing knowledge and to identify any potential analytical or testing gaps which would need to be addressed to enable TRISO use in advanced reactor licensing applications. Additional information is available in the Work Plan.

Output: Issuance of a report that will do the following:

  1. Provide the evidentiary basis to support regulatory findings for items associated with fuel qualification that are generically applicable to TRISO fuel based on currently available information,
  2. Identify areas of TRISO fuel qualification that are design dependent, and
  3. Highlight areas where additional information and/or testing is still needed to support regulatory approval.

Licensing Modernization Project

Scope: CNSC and USNRC  compared the criteria/guidance for technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based staff review of applications for advanced reactors and documented areas of commonality and differences between the Canadian approach and US approach.

Output: CNSC and USNRC issued a joint report comparing the USNRC’s Licensing Modernization Project and Canadian practice. ML21225A101

Classification of Structures, Systems and Components

Scope: CNSC and USNRC  will review the safety classification process for structures, systems, and components (SSCs) of each organization and identify key similarities and differences.

Output: CNSC and USNRC will issue a joint report documenting the commonalities and differences in safety classification of SSCs including an assessment of the impact of these differences on the design.​

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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, January 17, 2023

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