ML25084A237
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| ML25084A237 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/12/2025 |
| From: | Michele Sampson NRC/NRR/DNRL |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25084A237 (8) | |
Text
ADVANCE Act Section 401Report on Advanced Methods of Manufacturing and Construction for Nuclear Energy Projects Michele Sampson, Director Division of New and Renewed Licenses Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Section 401 Requirements Examine
- Unique licensing issues or requirements relating to the use, for nuclear energy projects, of advanced manufacturing processes, advanced construction techniques, and rapid improvement or iterative innovation processes
- Requirements for nuclear-grade components in manufacturing and construction
- Potential use of standard materials, parts, or components in manufacturing and construction
- Potential use of standard materials to support or encapsulate new materials not covered by codes and standards
- Requirements related to the transportation of a fueled advanced nuclear reactor core from a manufacturing licensee to a licensees site
Section 401 Requirements (cont.)
- Identify safety aspects of advanced manufacturing processes and advanced construction techniques that are not addressed by existing codes and standards
- Based on the results of the NRCs examination
- Identify options for addressing the issues, requirements, and opportunities
- Identify how domestic nuclear manufacturing and construction developers are impacted
- Identify the extent to which Commission action is needed for implementation
- Include cost estimates, proposed budgets, and timeframes
Stakeholder Engagement
- External stakeholders
- Stakeholder input collected at the following public meetings:
- 2024 NRC Standards Forum (September 25, 2024) (ML24298A246)
- Public Meeting on ADVANCE Act of 2024Section 401Advanced Methods of Manufacturing and Construction (September 30, 2024) (ML24291A083)
- Periodic Advanced Reactor Stakeholder Meeting (October 30, 2024) (ML24355A157)
- Received letters from the Breakthrough Institute (ML24276A206; ML24295A113),
ClearPath (ML25008A073), and Nuclear Energy Institute (ML24317A080)
NRC Response
- Report was provided to congress in January 2025 (ML24292A171)
- Identified completed, ongoing, and potential future actions to enhance efficiency in staff reviews and provide greater clarity to applicants
Ongoing Program Activities
- Provide a paper to the Commission evaluating options for providing regulatory flexibility in 10 CFR Part 52 during construction and operational phases
- Develop design review lessons learned to improve the review process and guidance on rapid development and iterative innovation
- Develop the Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program
- Pre-application engagement on revision to approved topical report for steel-plate composite structures
- Develop guidance on seismic design of advanced reactors
Potential New Program Activities
- Develop risk-informed and performance-based guidance on structural and mechanical review of components
- Develop guidance on new materials that do not yet have applicable codes and standards
- Develop guidance on accelerated material qualification
- Develop guidance on examination of novel materials
- Develop transport guidance for the use of new or nonnuclear technologies to provide greater manufacturing flexibility in package designs
- Develop guidance for structural monitoring of designs using advanced construction techniques
Next Steps