ML26022A346
| ML26022A346 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/22/2026 |
| From: | Chauhan M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Michael Wentzel Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML26022A346 (0) | |
Text
January 22, 2026 MEMORANDUM TO:
Michael Wentzel, Chief Advanced Reactor Policy Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Maggie Chauhan, Project Manager Advanced Reactor Licensing Branch 2 Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON REMOTE OPERATIONS CONSIDERATIONS Meeting Information:
Public Meeting Notice Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
Accession No.: ML25268A052 Presentation Slides ADAMS Accession No.: ML25267A230 Meeting Attendees: See the Enclosure for a list of meeting attendees.
CONTACT:
Maggie Chauhan, NRR/DANU 301-415-0365 MAGGIE CHAUHAN Digitally signed by MAGGIE CHAUHAN Date: 2026.01.22 16:55:47 -05'00'
Public Meeting Summary:
On September 25, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff hosted a public meeting to discuss the ongoing development of a technology-agnostic report prepared by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and Sargent & Lundy. The draft report evaluates regulatory requirements under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Parts 50 and 52 for remote main control rooms. Its goal is to identify unique compliance challenges and potential exemptions related to remote operations, providing guidance for future applicants. Meeting materials (ML25267A230) included an overview of the key topic areas the draft report intends to address. The NRC staff conducted the meeting in accordance with NRC Management Directive 3.5, Attendance at NRC Staff-Sponsored Meetings (ML21180A271).
Key discussions covered several areas:
Project Scope: NRC staff requested clarification on building code compliance and robust design requirements for remote control room facilities. Sargent & Lundy explained that the current report assumes adherence to standard building codes, with enhanced robustness to be addressed in future revisions. NRC also highlighted the complexity of integrating diverse technologies and operational concepts, recommending identification of key factors that influence implementation. Sargent & Lundy agreed, emphasizing the importance of industry input from NEI, vendors, and utilities. While the report remains generic, insights from deployment models will help capture nuances for both current and future reactor fleets.
Human Factors Engineering: The report evaluates compliance with General Design Criterion 19, 10 CFR 50.34(f), and IEEE 603 for alternate shutdown capability, focusing on remote operations without an on-site control room. NRC confirmed that licensed operator requirements under 10 CFR 50.54(i) and (j) remain applicable. Key challenges include extended response times, manual actions, and reliance on local stations.
Sargent & Lundy noted that the report assumes conservative timing for delays and requires applicants to justify these assumptions in safety analyses.
Operator Staffing and Roles: The discussion focused on regulatory requirements for operator staffing and roles under 10 CFR 50.54 (i) through (m), 50.120(b)(2),
50.34(b)(6)(i), and Part 55, and related guidance with the concept of remote control rooms being integrated into reactor design from the outset, not retrofitted. It was discussed that current regulations require NRC approved alternatives or exemptions for reduced staffing in advanced designs. Sargent & Lundy confirmed the focus on licensed operators in remote control rooms but acknowledged the need for clarity regarding field technicians. The report remains generic and does not define staffing models. NRC staff suggested specifying operator types (licensed vs. non-licensed operators) to avoid confusion.
Emergency Planning: Recent revisions to 10 CFR 50.33(g)(2) and 50.160 provide flexibility for remote-based emergency planning, including site-boundary Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs). The reports objective is to demonstrate that remote operations can comply with existing requirements without exemptions. Key discussion areas included maintenance and surveillance strategies, emergency command and control structures, and integration of emergency response facilities. Sargent & Lundy confirmed that the report focuses on regulatory feasibility rather than detailed operational procedures. NRC staff asked whether the proposal eliminates traditional Appendix E
facilities (e.g., Technical Support Centers and Emergency Operations Facilities) and whether remote operations account for multiple models and licensing/training for operators managing different reactor designs. Sargent & Lundy confirmed that Appendix E facilities are not being eliminated and that the concept assumes multiple units of the same design, while acknowledging the need to explore various operational models. NRC staff further discussed the potential for remote emergency response facilities to serve as combined operations centers within a centralized remote operations model, which Sargent & Lundy confirmed is feasible.
Physical Security: The discussion focused on ensuring remote control rooms comply with 10 CFR 73.55 requirements for vital area designation, access control, and target set analysis. Exemptions may be possible if the facility cannot contribute to significant core damage. NRC staff and Sargent & Lundy supported a dialog on protection strategies, construction standards, and access authorization. Sargent & Lundy emphasized that security measures should be driven by target set analysis, noted that reliance on local law enforcement is generally impractical (though geographic location may affect response), and indicated that access authorization and fitness-for-duty programs would likely align with existing standards for consistency.
Cybersecurity: The report addresses cybersecurity for remote operations, requiring all remote pathways to be treated as external connections and secured using defense-in-depth strategies such as hardened gateways, continuous monitoring, and fallback controls. It evaluates risk and mitigation for point-to-point fiber versus virtual private networks/web-based links, recommending segmentation, proxy hardening, and redundant pathways. The discussion clarified the adoption of East-West architecture where Public Internet use is allowed but requires additional security controls. The scope remains aligned with NEI 08-09 Rev. 6 Requirements for Tailored Technical and Administrative Controls (ML101180437) and references Regulatory Guide 5.71.
Maintenance and Surveillance: The report assumes plant systems will be designed to support remote operations, testing, and maintenance, with enhanced coordination to address potential limitations in onsite operator availability. NRC staff and Sargent &
Lundy discussed that the report does not propose exemptions from existing maintenance or surveillance requirements. Instead, it recommends adapting design and operational models to maintain compliance, noting that exemptions are unlikely.
Compliance can be achieved through vendor-utility coordination, either by ensuring onsite personnel for required activities or implementing remote management processes.
Public comments were invited, with one question regarding fire protection and fire brigade requirements. NEI noted these are addressed in a separate technical report, NEI 24-11, Revision 1, Fire Response Evaluation for Advanced Reactor Technology (ML25268A214).
Enclosure:
List of Meeting Attendees cc: Advanced Reactor Updates via GovDelivery
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON REMOTE OPERATIONS CONSIDERATIONS.
DATED: JANUARY 22, 2026 DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDanuUarp Resource RidsNrrDanu Resource MWentzel MChauhan ADAMS Accession Number: ML25268A052 NRR-001 OFFICE NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NRR/DANU/UARP/BC NRR/DANU/UAL2/PM NAME MChauhan MWentzel MChauhan DATE 1/22/2026 1/22/2026 1/22/2026 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Enclosure 1
List of Meeting Attendees September 25, 2025, Observation Meeting discussing Nuclear Energy Institute Draft Whitepaper on Remote Operation Considerations Name Organization Maggie Chauhan U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Camille Peres NRC Stella Opara NRC Susan Cooper NRC Amy DAgostino NRC Eric Brothman NRC Miguel Hernandez NRC Jim Anderson NRC Maury Brooks NRC Maurin Scheetz NRC Youssef Rokes NRC Steve Sarver NRC Yasseen Sabil NRC Ming Li NRC Dan Geary NRC Shawn M. Brust NRC Mario Frenandez NRC Kenneth Mott NRC Kobe Oley NRC Jorge Hernandez Munoz NRC Edward Robinson NRC Philip McKenna NRC Tammie Rivera NRC William Kennedy NRC Erick Martinez Rodriguez NRC Anya Kim NRC Michael Balazik NRC Don Wong NRC Cindy Rosales-Cooper NRC Keith Miller NRC Alissa Neuhausen NRC Sean Peters NRC Jeffrey Herrera NRC James Chang NRC Niav Hughes Green NRC Bruce Greer NRC Tanvir Siddiky NRC Stephen Philpott NRC Alan Jelalian NRC
Enclosure 2
Name Organization Alan Campbell NEI Rick Paese Sargent and Lundy Michael Brandon Sargent and Lundy Many Sharma Sargent and Lundy Shawn M. Brust Sargent and Lundy C M Launi Sargent and Lundy Justin L Corey Sargent and Lundy Jana Bergman Curtis Wright Lauren Gibson X-energy Jill S. Monahan Penn State University Neil Herman BWXT Deric Tilson The Breakthrough Institute Kris Cummings NuScale Andrea Sterdis Westinghouse Chris Courtenay TerraPower