Spotlight
Clinch River Nuclear Site Application
Graphic provided by Tennessee Valley Authority
Who: | Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) |
What: | Application for a Construction Permit for a small modular reactor (BWRX-300) |
When: | April 2025 to present (date of application submittal) |
Website: | https://www.tva.com/energy/technology-innovation/advanced-nuclear-solutions |
Dashboard: |
On this page:
- Project Overview
- Topical Reports
- Public Meeting Materials and Meeting Summaries
- Audits and Audit Reports
- Environmental Review
- Exemption Requests
- Key Milestones
- Contacts
Project Overview
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently engaged in review activities for Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) construction permit application for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This comes after the NRC’s issuance of the site’s Early Site Permit (ESP) in 2019.
Additional information on pre-application activities can be obtained from ADAMS using a search by docket number 99902056.
Additional information regarding the ESP can be found at Clinch River Nuclear Site Early Site Permit webpage.
Topical Reports
Submittal Date | Title | Reference | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
08/25/2022 | Clinch River, Topical Report Quality Assurance Program Description for New Nuclear Program |
Public Meeting Materials and Meeting Summaries
Meeting Date | Title |
|---|---|
01/14/2025 | Meeting between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding TVA’s request for clarification and alignment on the acceptability of TVA's approach to mapping of geology and geologic features during excavation activities at the Clinch River Nuclear Site |
12/05/2024 | Meeting between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Tennessee Valley Authority regarding Tennessee Valley Authority’s request for clarification on the following question: “When the Spent Fuel Pool and Reactor Cavity pool water volumes are cojoined during refueling operation (Pool divider gate removed), is the Regulatory Guidance provided in Regulatory Guide 1.13 and Standard Review Plans 9.1.2 and 9.1.4 applicable to the contiguous volume of water? |
10/18/2023 | |
09/13/2023 | |
10/03/2022 | |
08/22/2022 | |
05/02/2023 | TVA CRN Strategy on Structural and Seismic Analyses based on existing Subsurface Investigation |
Audits and Audit Reports
Title | Status/Report |
|---|---|
Construction Permit Readiness Assessment for TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear Site (Preliminary Safety Analysis Report) | |
Construction Permit Readiness Assessment for TVA’s Clinch River Nuclear Site (Environmental Report) |
Environmental Review
The NRC staff prepared a draft SEIS (ML25261A214) documenting its environmental review. Based on the environmental review, the NRC made a preliminary determination that the proposed actions would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. The NRC is offering a 45-day public comment period, ending on December 22, 2025. Methods for submitting comments are included in the federal register notice.
After consideration of the public comments, the NRC staff will make a final determination regarding the environmental impacts for the construction permit application for the Clinch River Nuclear Site. A final SEIS will be issued with the NRC’s determination.
Exemption Requests
Title | Status/Report |
|---|---|
Request for Exemption from Certain Requirements of 10 CFR 2.101(a)(5) | |
Granted | |
Final Environmental Assessment for the Clinch River Nuclear Site Exemption Request | Complete |
Complete | |
Complete | |
Complete | |
Complete | |
Complete |
Key Milestones
Milestones | Completion Date |
|---|---|
Environmental Report Submitted (Part One) | April 28, 2025 – A |
Preliminary Safety Analysis Report Submitted (Part Two) | May 20, 2025 – A |
Environmental Report Acceptance Review Completion (Decision Letter Issued) | June 12, 2025 – A |
Preliminary Safety Analysis Report Acceptance Review Completion (Decision Letter Issued) | July 11, 2025 – T; July 9, 2025 – A |
Review Schedule Established/Schedule Letter Issued to Applicant (Schedule & Resource Letter) | July 25, 2025 – A |
Safety Review* | November 2026 |
Environmental Review* | April 2026 |
Complete Draft SEIS Sections | September 18, 2025 – A |
Finalize Draft SEIS and Related Activities | December 19, 2025 – T, November 7, 2025 – A |
Comment Responses and Final SEIS | March 2026 – T |
Finalize Final SEIS and Related Activities | April 2026 – T |
Hearing | TBD |
Construction Permit Decision | TBD |
Contacts
Contacts for Clinch River Nuclear Site | |
|---|---|
Safety Project Manager (co-lead) | |
Safety Project Manager (co-lead) | |
Safety Project Manager | |
Safety Project Manager | |
Safety Project Manager | |
Safety Project Manager | |
Environmental Project Manager | |
Contact a Public Affairs Officer | |
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, November 07, 2025
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Friday, November 07, 2025