ML17054C847
| ML17054C847 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/10/2017 |
| From: | Vonna Ordaz Office of New Reactors |
| To: | Cowan P Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Williams J, NRO/DEIA/ARPB, 415-1470 | |
| References | |
| YT-2017-0031 | |
| Download: ML17054C847 (3) | |
Text
April 10, 2017 Ms. Pamela B. Cowan Vice President, Regulatory Affairs Nuclear Energy Institute 1201 F Street, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004
SUBJECT:
NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF ADVANCED NON-LIGHT WATER REACTORS
Dear Ms. Cowan:
I am responding to your letter dated January 11, 2017,1 describing the Nuclear Energy Institutes (NEIs) activities supporting advanced non-light-water reactors. Your letter seeks frequent interactions with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff on a variety of issues. These topics include developing a staged regulatory approach for advanced reactor licensing; establishing a risk-informed, performance-based regulatory structure; engaging with standards development organizations; and clarifying and preparing regulatory processes for non-commercial demonstration projects.
The NRC Vision and Strategy: Safely Achieving Effective and Efficient Non-Light Water Reactor Mission Readiness"2 and the associated draft near-term implementation action plans3 address the same activities mentioned in your letter. The NRC staff currently interact with NEI and other stakeholders to improve regulatory processes, and identify and resolve policy issues.
For example, during the NRC public meeting on advanced reactor issues that took place on February 2, 2017,4 the NRC staff, NEI representatives, and other stakeholders discussed licensing-basis event selection and the use of probabilistic risk assessments; these topics address your interest in a technology-inclusive regulatory structure for advanced reactors. The NRC plans to continue these stakeholder discussions to the extent our resources allow, and we will inform stakeholders if circumstances affect the pace of our engagement.
As discussed in our stakeholder meetings, the NRC also encourages prospective applicants to develop licensing project plans describing their expected submittals and desired regulatory products. While your letter provides valuable insight, our planning would also benefit if prospective applicants describe their licensing plans by responding to Regulatory Issue Summary 2016-08, Process for Scheduling and Allocating Resources in Fiscal Year 2019 for the Review of New Licensing Applications for Light-Water Reactors and 1 Letter, Pamela B. Cowan (NEI) to Vonna L. Ordaz (NRC), NEI Activities in Support of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors, January 11, 2017, Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML17013A138 (package).
2 December 2016, ADAMS Accession No. ML16356A670.
3 November 2016, ADAMS Accession No. ML16334A495.
4 Memorandum, William D. Reckley (NRC) to John P. Segala (NRC), Summary of February 2, 2017, Public Meeting to Discuss Advanced Reactor Regulatory Reviews, February 21, 2017, ADAMS Accession No. ML17052A809.
P. Cowan 2
Non-Light-Water Reactors, dated June 7, 2016.5 This information can support our efforts to develop flexible staged regulatory approaches. In addition, NRCs budget planning can best account for these activities and other needs of prospective advanced reactor applicants when the NRC staff has reliable information on the timing and nature of planned licensing efforts.
We look forward to the opportunity to continuing discussion of advanced reactor issues with NEI and other stakeholders.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Vonna L. Ordaz, Acting Director Office of New Reactors 5 ADAMS Accession No. ML16082A218.
P. Cowan 3
NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF ADVANCED NON-LIGHT WATER REACTORS DATED: April 10, 2017 DISTRIBUTION: YT-2017-0031 JSegala, NRO ACosta, NRO ACubbage, NRO NDevaser, NRO WReckley, NRO JMazza, NRO GTartal, NRO LVechioli, NRO JWilliams, NRO AAdams, NRR DJackson, NRO RCaldwell, NRO VOrdaz, NRO MMayfield, NRO RidsNroDeia Resource RidsNroDcip Resource RidsNroDnrl Resource RidsNroDsea Resource RidsNroDsra Resource ADAMS Accession Number: ML17054C847
- via e-mail NRO-002 OFFICE NRO/DEIA/ARPB NRO/DEIA/ARPB NRR/DPR/PRLB*
NRO/DEIA NAME JWilliams JSegala AAdams DAJackson DATE 02/24/2017 02/28/2017 02/28/2017 03/02/2017 OFFICE NRO/DEIA QTE NRO NAME RCaldwell KAzariah-Kribbs VOrdaz DATE 03/02/2017 03/08/2017 04/10/2017 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY