Technology and Regulatory Approach
The NRC staff asks prospective applicants to identify:
- The specific reactor technology
- Which regulations (i.e., Part 50, Part 52, or Part 53) could be applied in licensing the proposed reactor design.
Reactor technologies that use non-radioactive water (i.e., light water) to cool the nuclear fuel have been the dominant technology for the past 70 years. Many new reactor designs being proposed to the NRC instead use other coolants such as high-temperature gas or liquid salt. Identifying the coolant technology determines which NRC staff will interact with an applicant, as well as the regulations that apply to a future application. When applicants identify reactor technology, the NRC staff can provide appropriate detail in feedback in technical discussions and reviews and offer accurate scheduling for future reviews.