ML25094A038
| ML25094A038 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/04/2025 |
| From: | NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25064A536 | List: |
| References | |
| M250410 | |
| Download: ML25094A038 (1) | |
Text
MICROREACTOR COMMISSION MEETING April 10, 2025 1
Mirela Gavrilas Executive Director for Operations Opening Remarks 2
Jeremy Bowen Director, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities 3
ADVANCE Act Pre-application Engagement NEI Paper: Rapid High-Volume Deployment in Remote Areas Advanced Reactor Stakeholder Meetings SECY-20-0093 Oct 2020 SECY-24-0008 Jan 2024 NOAK White Paper Integrated Plan NOV/Shepherd Power Letter Path of Engagement on Microreactors QR Code for Microreact or Website Microreactors 4
Systematic Alignment on Microreactor Activities Security &
Safeguards Transportation Decommissioning Staffing &
Operations Risk Analysis Methods Inspection &
Oversight Emergency Preparedness Siting Graded Site Characterization Annual Fees Remote and Autonomous Operations Spent Fuel Storage Aircraft Impact Assessments Maritime Space Document Processing Mobile Deployment Alternative Licensing Strategies Timeframe for Authorization to Operate Decommissioning Funding Assurance Materials Control and Accounting Factory Fuel Loading Operational Testing in a Factory Integrated Plan 5
Integrated Microreactor Activities Plan
William (Duke) Kennedy Senior Project Manager Advanced Reactor Policy Branch, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 6
SECY-24-0008: Enabling Near-Term Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory and Transportation of Fueled Microreactors Features to preclude criticality Fuel loading at a factory Operational testing at a factory Information topics including transportation of fueled microreactors 7
Policy Topics Image: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC Image: Idaho National Laboratory Image: Radiant Industries, Inc.
Standardized operational programs Generic environmental review Graded site characterization 8
Standardization and Regulatory Process Enhancements to Reduce the Schedule and Cost of Licensing Nth-of-a-Kind Microreactors Upfront Approval Nth-of-a-Kind Licensing Standardized design Operating decision Site-specific information Online licensing portal Safety review Environmental review Scalable construction inspection Image: Aalo Image: Last Energy Image: Idaho National Laboratory
ADVANCE Act Section 208: Regulatory Requirements for Microreactors Siting for licensing mobile microreactors Siting in relation to population density criteria Oversight and inspection during operation Remote operation and autonomous operation Alternative licensing approaches for fleet deployment Section 208 Topical Areas Staffing and operations Oversight and inspections Safeguards and security Emergency preparedness Risk analysis methods, including alternatives to probabilistic risk assessments Decommissioning funding assurance Transportation of fueled microreactors Siting 9
Communication and Engagement on Licensing and Deployment Considerations, including Policy Topics Microreactor Policy Topics Features to preclude criticality Fuel loading at a factory Operational testing at a factory Approval of standardized operational programs Integrated Microreactor Activities Plan Population density criteria for siting Siting for licensing mobile microreactors 36 topics Prioritization and interdependencies Actions for guidance, rulemaking, and policy recommendations Communication and engagement tool 10
Cinthya Roman Deputy Director Division of Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 11
Transportation Package 10 CFR Part 71 Possession of the reactor Manufacturing License - 10 CFR Part 52 SNM License - 10 CFR Part 70
- Part 51, Transportation Impacts to the Environment
- Part 73, Physical Protection and Emergency Response in transit The Current Regulatory Framework for the Transportation of Radioactive Materials Supports the Licensing Needs of Near-term Transportable Microreactor Applications 12
Microreactor Transportation Package Considerations 13 Transportable vs.
Mobile Microreactors Transportable - shipped to a fixed site for operation Mobile - designed to move between locations.
Different Transportation Modes Transportation strategy depend on reactor size, weight, and purpose (road, rail, maritime, etc.)
New Fuels - HALEU TRISO Metallic Fuels End-of-Life Transportation Spent fuel may not remain at the site.
Reactor could be transported back to manufacturing facility.
Transportation containers are built to withstand severe accident scenarios 14
- The containers are required to pass a sequence of tests, which can be done with physical testing, computer modeling, or both.
- The test sequence encompasses more than 99% of possible vehicle accidents.
Transportation regulations are applicable for different microreactor transportation packages Novel packaging strategies and approaches will benefit from some of the flexibilities in 10 CFR Part 71 o 10 CFR Part 71.41, Demonstration of Compliance o 10 CFR 71.41 (c) - Alternative methods are allowed if equivalent safety is demonstrated.
o 10 CFR 71.41 (d) - Special Package Authorization is used when compliance with standard regulations is impractical, such as for large or one-time shipments, including a fueled microreactor being transported for refurbishment or disposal.
o 10 CFR 71.12, Specific Exceptions o Exemptions might be granted if appropriate justifications are provided.
15
NAC International OPTIMUS-L Package This is the first time the NRC has licensed high-capacity packaging (>500 lb payload) for HALEU TRISO up to 20% U-235.
Pre-application engagement resulted in a high-quality application and timely review and CoC issuance.
Alternative regulatory approach under 10 CFR 71.12 (exemptions).
The NRC endorsed a risk-informed methodology in SECY-24-0062 This methodology is adaptable and could potentially be integrated into future transportable reactors.
16 DoD Project Pele Microreactor
West Valley Tanks Heavy Haul Truck to Railyard Crystal River Unit 3 Middle Package (CR3MP)
Special Authorizations Under 10 CFR 71.41(d)
Used to transport a large vitrification melter used for nuclear waste processing at West Valley.
The unique radiological and structural considerations made it incompatible with standard packaging, requiring a tailored review process.
Used for transporting large reactor components from the Crystal River Unit 3 nuclear plant.
Required a special safety review for containment and structural integrity during transport.
17
The NRC is Evaluating Ways to More Efficiently Regulate Transportable Microreactors by Focusing on Staffs Technical Expertise, Regulatory Guidance, and Collaborative Efforts International Collaboration Stakeholder Engagement Staff Development Research 18
Dan Barnhurst Branch Chief Environmental Project Management Branch 3, Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 19
Optimizing Environmental Reviews for Microreactors 20 Builds on Efficiency Gains NEPA Process improvements, NR GEIS, Fiscal Responsibility Act, ADVANCE Act Tailored, Scaled Reviews Micro-Rx specific resource models reflect smaller footprint, impact, and review.
Flexible and Adaptive Variability in design, site size, deployment model and type of NEPA review. Use of e-portal.
Multi-Option Approach 4 phased environmental review alternatives.
Image: Radiant Nuclear Image: Last Energy.
Image: Last Energy.
Image: Oklo Inc.
Image: Westinghouse.
Image: Terra Innovatum SOLO.
Microreactor Environmental Review Alternatives 21 Current Streamlined Process (Alternative 1)
Design-Specific Approach (Alternative 2)
Applicability Initial Review Nth of a Kind Implementation Applicant with ready design and few applications.
Applicant with standard design for deployment at multiple sites.
Design-Specific Generic EIS and Site-Specific Supplement.
Same as Initial.
Site-Specific Supplement (EIS or EA with FONSI).
Immediately.
Upon receipt of design-specific application.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment with Finding of No Significant Impact (EA with FONSI).
Microreactor Environmental Review Alternatives (cont.)
22 Bounding Plant/Site Approach (Alternative 3)
Categorical Exclusion (Alternative 4)
Applicability Initial Review Nth of a Kind Implementation Applicant considering range of designs, sites and deployment models.
Applicant with design and site with demonstrated lack of significant impacts.
Streamlined EIS or EA with FONSI w/ bounding values.
NA-Option potentially available at NOAK stage.
EIS or EA with FONSI tiered from Initial.
Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) if demonstrated lack of significant impacts.
Upon development of framework (e.g., bounding values, worksheets and templates).
If/when feasible based on review experience and rulemaking.
Developing and Implementing Microreactor Environmental Review Alternatives: Next Steps 23 Engage stakeholders to Develop Bounding Values Develop Document Templates and Screening Worksheets Develop Online Portal Beginning Now Develop Design-Specific Generic Environmental Impact Statement Tailor Online Portal After Design-Specific Application Submittal Develop Categorical Exclusion Framework Rulemaking for Categorical Exclusion Tailor Online Portal When Feasible
Jessie Quichocho Branch Chief Reactor Licensing Branch, Division of Preparedness and Response, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response 24
- Technology-inclusive framework in 10 CFR 50.160 framework
>> Performance based
>> Graded approach
>> Credits smaller source terms and use of advanced safety features The current regulatory emergency preparedness framework supports the licensing of microreactors 25
Staff is developing guidance and procedures to simplify EP licensing and oversight of low-risk microreactor technologies
- Supporting guidance and activities RG 1.242, Performance-Based Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors, Non-Light-Water Reactors, and Non-Power Production or Utilization Facilities Interim staff guidance (ISG) for 50.160 reviews Inspection procedures focused on performance demonstration through drills PURSUING ADDITIONAL EFFICIENCIES EPZ certainty for facilities below 50 MWth Simplified approaches for offsite preparedness Templates for standardized plans 26
Standardization of emergency planning can support faster deployment of approved technologies across U.S.
- Standardizing EP planning functions
- Minimize site specific dependencies to facilitate implementation at any site
- Standardizing approaches and methodologies
- use of bounding assumptions such as meteorological or seismic parameters
- use of topical reports to approve methodologies for similar designs 27
Conducting application meetings and audits to close technical gaps and minimize EP review time Engaging stakeholders to understand EP challenges and potential regulatory solutions to address them The NRC staff will continue to engage stakeholders in various forums to facilitate Microreactor Emergency Preparedness Collaborating with FEMA for onsite and offsite emergency preparedness needs U.S. NRC FEMA 28
Mirela Gavrilas Executive Director for Operations Closing Remarks 29
Acronyms Special Nuclear Material - SNM Emergency Preparedness - EP Federal Emergency Management Agency - FEMA Regulatory Guide - RG Interim Staff Guidance - ISG Emergency Preparedness Zone - EPZ Code of Federal Regulations - CFR Nuclear Energy Institute - NEI Nth of a Kind - NOAK Department of Energy - DOE Department of Homeland Security - DHS Department of Transportation - DOT Transportation Security Administration - TSA Enivronmental Assessment - EA Environmental Impact Statement - EIS National Environmental Policy Act - NEPA First of a Kind - FOAK Plant Parameter Envelope - PPE Site Parameter Envelope - SPE Low Level Waste - LLW Advanced Nuclear Reactor - ANR 30 30