ML19319C495

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Letter from NEI Providing White Paper on Micro-Reactor Regulatory Issues
ML19319C495
Person / Time
Site: Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date: 11/13/2019
From: Nichol M
Nuclear Energy Institute
To: John Monninger
NRC/NRR/DANU
Cubbage A, NRR/DANU/UARP, 301-415-2875
Shared Package
ML19319C449 List:
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Download: ML19319C495 (2)


Text

Cubbage, Amy To: Cubbage, Amy

Subject:

RE: RE: NEI White Paper on Micro-Reactor Regulatory Issues Forwarded message From: "NICHOL, Marcus" <mrn@nei.org>

Date: Wed, Nov 13, 2019 at 1:28 PM 0500

Subject:

NEI White Paper on MicroReactor Regulatory Issues To: "jdm@nrc.gov" <jdm@nrc.gov>

Cc: "ho.nieh@nrc.gov" <ho.nieh@nrc.gov>, "robert.taylor@nrc.gov" <robert.taylor@nrc.gov>, "john.segala@nrc.gov"

<john.segala@nrc.gov>, "amy.cubbage@nrc.gov" <amy.cunbbage@nrc.gov>, "boyce.travis@nrc.gov"

<boyce.travis@nrc.gov>, "GRP. Generation & Suppliers Internal Distribution List"

<Grpgensuppliersdistributionlist@nei.org>

November 13, 2019 Mr. John D. Monninger Director, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Subject:

NEI White Paper on Micro-Reactor Regulatory Issues Project Number: 689

Dear Mr. Monninger:

The purpose of this letter is to share the NEI[1] white paper on Micro-Reactor Regulatory Issues for the NRCs consideration. We developed this paper to identify policy and technical issues related to the licensing of micro-reactors and to identify alternative approaches that may be more appropriate for these types of designs.

Micro-reactors are very small nuclear reactors, typically in the 2 MW-thermal to 40 MW-thermal range with some designs being even larger or slightly smaller. Micro-reactors will have very small radionuclide inventories as compared to large light-water reactors, and some may assure safety entirely through inherent and passive design features. These features are expected to result in micro-reactors that have very low potential for consequences that could impact public health and safety. As a result, the NRC should consider alternative approaches for micro-reactors that can demonstrate that the potential consequences of accidents, even for the worst-case scenarios, would not lead to a significant adverse impact on the health or safety of the public.

We anticipate the need to work with the NRC to better understand the micro-reactor technologies and to address regulatory issues for these designs. The attached white paper identifies potential actions that may be needed to develop more details about the micro-reactor design features and safety basis, and additional information that may be needed in order for the NRC to consider alternative approaches. We would like to discuss these approaches and any additional actions to develop additional information.

If there are any questions on this matter, please contact me (mrn@nei.org; 202-739-8131).

Sincerely, Marcus R. Nichol 1

Director, New Reactor Deployment New Reactors Nuclear Energy Institute 1201 F St NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20004 www.nei.org P: 202.739.8131 M: 202.316.4412 E: mrn@nei.org This electronic message transmission contains information from the Nuclear Energy Institute, Inc. The information is intended solely for the use of the addressee and its use by any other person is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient, you have received this communication in error, and any review, use, disclosure, copying or distribution of the contents of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or by electronic mail and permanently delete the original message. IRS Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS and other taxing authorities, we inform you that any tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Sent through www.intermedia.com

[1]

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

2