ML17128A496

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Incoming Letter from M Tschiltz - NEI - Dated April 24 2017, Providing Report on Clarifying Major Portions of a Reactor Design for Standard Design Approval
ML17128A496
Person / Time
Site: Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date: 04/24/2017
From: Tschiltz M
Nuclear Energy Institute
To: Mayfield M
Office of New Reactors
Reckley W, NRO/DSRA/ARPB, 301-415-7490
References
Download: ML17128A496 (2)


Text

MICHAEL D. TSCHILTZ Director, New Plant, SMRs & Advanced Reactors 1201 F Street, NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004 P: 202.739.8083 mdt@nei.org nei.org April 24, 2017 Mr. Michael E. Mayfield Acting Deputy Director Office of New Reactors U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

Request for Review and Comment on Clarifying Major Portions of a Reactor Design in Support of a Standard Design Approval Report Project Number: 689

Dear Mr. Mayfield:

This letter provides a link to the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) report Clarifying Major Portions of a Reactor Design in Support of a Standard Design Approval for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) review and comment. The draft NRC Non-Light Water Reactor (Non-LWR) Vision and Strategy - Staff Report: Near-Term Implementation Action Plans, Volume 2, includes Strategy 3: Develop guidance for a flexible non-LWR regulatory review process within the bounds of existing regulations, including the use of conceptual design reviews and staged-review processes. One of the existing regulations that could be utilized in a staged-review process is 10 CFR Part 52, Subpart E - Standard Design Approvals. However, this option has not been exercised with respect to the ability to seek review of a major portion of a standard design.

NIA, with the support of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 1 on behalf of the nuclear energy industry, has developed proposed guidance for clarifying major portions. We appreciate the NRCs recognition in the near-term implementation action plan for Strategy 3, specifically Contributing Activity 3.4, that a standard design approval is among the various regulatory applications available and that more guidance could be provided to clarify expectations for such submittals. Through recent NRC/industry interactions it has been determined that guidance for clarifying major portions as identified in 10 CFR 52.131 would be useful to increase the predictability of the standard design approval process for potential applicants and NRC reviewers.

1 The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is the organization responsible for establishing unified industry policy on matters affecting the nuclear energy industry, including the regulatory aspects of generic operational and technical issues. NEI's members include all entities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect/engineering firms, fuel cycle facilities, nuclear materials licensees, and other organizations and entities involved in the nuclear energy industry.

Mr. Michael E. Mayfield April 24, 2017 Page 2 This report provides example criteria and related considerations for an applicant to use in establishing the scope of major portions for their specific application. The report also provides insight on how a standard design approval might be useful in a staged-review process. Based on interactions with the NRC, the industry will determine the best approach to obtain NRC endorsement of its use.

Please utilize the following link to retrieve the report. If you have any questions, please contact me or Kati Austgen (202.739.8068; kra@nei.org).

Sincerely, Michael D. Tschiltz c: Ms. Vonna L. Ordaz, NRO, NRC Mr. John D. Monninger, NRO/DSRA, NRC Ms. Amy E. Cubbage, NRO/DEIA/ARPB, NRC Mr. William D. Reckley, NRO/DEIA/ARPB, NRC NRC Document Control Desk