ML22210A313

Summary of June 7, 2022, Public Meeting to Discuss the NRCs Development of a Regulatory Framework for the Possible Commercial Deployment of Fusion Energy Systems

ML22210A313
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/04/2022
From:	Proffitt J NRC/NRR/DANU/UARP
To:	Steven Lynch NRC/NRR/DANU/UARP
Proffitt J
References
Download: ML22210A313 (4)

Text

S. Lynch 1

MEMORANDUM TO:

Steven T. Lynch, Chief Advanced Reactor Policy Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:

J. Andrew Proffitt, Project Manager Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUMMARY

OF JUNE 7, 2022, PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE NRCS DEVELOPMENT OF A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENT OF FUSION ENERGY SYSTEMS On June 7, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a comment gathering public meeting with stakeholders, to discuss the NRCs development of a regulatory framework for the possible commercial deployment of fusion energy systems. The meeting notice is available in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at Accession No. ML22151A281, and the presentation slides are available at ADAMS Accession No. ML22159A269. The enclosure to this summary provides the attendees for the meeting as captured by Microsoft Teams.

Meeting Highlights

The NRC staff informed attendees that the purpose of the meeting was to gather insights to inform the development of a notation vote paper on the regulation of commercial fusion energy systems that will be provided to the Commission by Fall 2022.

Over 100 stakeholders participated in the meeting hearing a broad array of perspectives including from Agreement State, industry, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), university, and public stakeholders.

Presentations included: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Overview (Don Palmrose, NRC), Agreement States Current Oversight of Fusion Research and Development Activities (Diego Saenz, State of Wisconsin), Fusion Industry Association (FIA) Presentation (Andrew Holland and Sid Fowler, FIA), Atomic Energy Act Common Defense and Security/Application of Materials Framework Tools for Fusion (Michael Hua and Sachin Desai, Helion), General Atomics Perspectives (Brian Grierson, General Atomics), Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) Regulatory Presentation (Tyler Ellis, CFS), Right-sizing Regulation Based on Scale of Fusion Facility Hazards (Patrick White), Fusion and Tritium Accident Risks and Analysis (Dave Babineau, Savannah River National Lab), Development of Integral Management Scheme for Fusion Radioactive Materials: Recycling and Clearance, Avoiding Disposal (Laila El-Guebaly, August 4, 2022 Signed by Proffitt, Joseph on 08/04/22

S. Lynch 2

University of Wisconsin).

Fusion industry stakeholders noted that regulatory certainty is desired by 2023 to support current industry and DOE-backed timelines for fusion energy deployment.

Stakeholders that presented or expressed views at the meeting largely appeared aligned behind a byproduct material (10 CFR Part 30 Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material) approach to fusion licensing and regulation.

Stakeholder views expressed at the meeting:

o Potential exists for additional guidance, regulatory tweaks (e.g., definitions), or a 10 CFR Part 38 in the longer-term, following initial licensing and runtime to collect operating experience.

o Regulatory requirements should be scalable based on the hazards of the facility, Part 30 does this.

o No concrete regulatory or legislative roadblocks have been identified.

o Common defense and security is tied to special nuclear material, which fusion energy systems under development in the US do not contain.

o Current export control infrastructure is sufficient to address proliferation and intellectual property concerns.

o Industry and regulatory bodies should consider the potential large amount of low-level waste that a fusion energy industry could produce.

NRC staff posed a question regarding whether all fusion devices under development for near-term deployment fit under the legal and regulatory definitions of particle accelerator which was not able to be fully discussed due to time constraints. The NRC staff is interested in hearing more from stakeholders on this topic and may include it on the agenda for future meetings.

There were no significant or major actions for NRC staff as a result of the meeting. The NRC staff noted that the series of public meetings on fusion will likely continue, and the next meeting is expected in the fall 2022 timeframe.

Enclosure:

Attendance List

ML22210A313 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UARP/PM NRR/DANU/UARP/BC NAME AProffitt SLynch DATE 8/1/2022 8/4/2022 June 7, 2022, Public Meeting to Discuss the NRCs Development of a Regulatory Framework for the Possible Commercial Deployment of Fusion Energy Systems Attendance List*

Enclosure Name Name Name Christopher P. Chwasz Ulreich, Jeff Rich Hawryluk Lynch, Steven Akhavannik, Huda John Pfabe Bergman, Jana Saenz, Diego S - DHS Scott Krisiloff Tonsfeldt, Scott Brenda Garcia-Diaz Derek Sutherland Palmrose, Donald Jonathan Musgrove Dale Meade Thomas Davis Hull, Amy Andrew Sowder (EPRI)

Michelle Byman White, Duncan Matthew Greenwood Frank Schaaf Jake Blanchard Ann Weeks Susan Hoxie-Key Dr. Jurgita Randakeviciute-Alpman Wally Johnston Laila El-Guebaly Kessel, Charles Edelman Chris Ajemian Fowler, Sidney L.

Stephen P O'Hearn Stephanie Jacobs Susan Gallier Landry, Scott@CDPH Proffitt, Andrew Jerry Levine Pascal Dumont Allan Offenberger Malik, Shah Foreman, Bruce O'Neill, Mike L.

Corinne Mitchell Matthew J Nyberg Erwin, Kenneth Spencer, Michael Susan Podziba Dave Babineau Bernard Bevill Sheehan, Neil D R Demers Jason Brent Nelson de Messieres, Candace Tyler Ellis Hsu, Scott C Floyd DesChamps Tim Bohm-UWisc Vamvakias,Brian (DSHS)

Widmayer, Derek Patrick White (NIA)

Gregory Staack Rorem, EJ Ryan Umstattd Harris, Robert C.

Shober, Megan L - DHS Cameron Goodwin Andrew Holland GONZALEZ DE VICENTE, Sehila Staudenmeier, Joseph Semancik, Jeffrey Matteo Barbarino Shaw, Guinevere Brian Grierson (GA)

Gendelman, Adam Sachin Desai Andrew H FIA Jennings, Robert Caroline Anderson Mason YU Eric Sezgen O'NEILL, Martin Tharakan, Binesh Reckley, William Kate Hyam Holly Flynn Scott Brennan Andrew Holland l FIA Brent Nelson Thomas, Matt Merrifield, Jeffrey S.

BONANNO, Jerry Nardella, Gene Michael Hua Segala, John Sebrosky, Joseph Torrin Loughlin, Michael Tom Rognlien Carusone, Caroline Humrickhouse, Paul Colling, Bethany Dumont, Joseph Henry Forbes, Sally Timothy Krentz Ian Campbell (KCC)

Ford, Monica

• Attendance list based on Microsoft Teams Participant list. Phone numbers of participants who participated by phone are not included.