ML26033A094
| ML26033A094 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902028, Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Issue date: | 01/30/2026 |
| From: | Facemire J Nuclear Energy Institute |
| To: | Jon Greives Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Document Control Desk |
| Shared Package | |
| ML26033A093 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML26033A094 (0) | |
Text
Jon Facemire Senior Project Manager Phone: 202.256.0190 Email: jwf@nei.org January 30, 2026 Mr. Jonathan Greives Acting Director, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
Subject:
Request for NRC Review and Endorsement of NEI White Paper, Selection of a Seismic Scenario for an EPZ Boundary Determination Project Number: 689
Dear Mr. Greives,
On behalf of the nuclear energy industry, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)1 hereby submits the attached NEI White Paper, Selection of a Seismic Scenario for an EPZ Boundary Determination, to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for review and endorsement. This document describes a technology-inclusive methodology for the selection of a seismic scenario to use in an analysis for determining the boundary of a plume exposure pathway Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). An EPZ boundary analysis is required by power reactor applicants choosing to comply with section (g)(2) of 10 CFR 50.33, Contents of applications; general information, and § 50.160, Emergency preparedness for small modular reactors, non-light-water reactors, and non-power production or utilization facilities. The white paper guidance supplements that found in Regulatory Guide 1.242, Performance-Based Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors, Non-Light-Water Reactors, and Non-Power Production or Utilization Facilities.
The attached version of the white paper, dated January 2026, addresses the NRC staff comments provided to NEI during a public meeting on December 12, 2024 and follow-up clarification calls. The resolution of the staffs comments in the attached document reflects the discussion in those meetings. A version comparing the current report to the version submitted in May 2024 is also attached to facilitate NRC review. NEI and the 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.
Mr. Jonathan Greives January 30, 2026 Page 2 Nuclear Energy Institute nuclear industry view the NRC endorsement of the attached white paper as an important step towards the efficient and predictable licensing of advanced reactor facilities.
The white paper was developed to assist advanced reactor applicants with the preparation of license applications and the NRC staff with their ongoing efforts to create a generic regulatory framework for the review and approval of such applications. In addition, NEI intends to make the paper will be available to all applicants, free of charge. For this reason, we believe that a request for a fee waiver is not necessary to support NRC review and endorsement of the paper.
If you require additional information concerning this request, please contact me or David Young at dly@nei.org or (202) 739-8127.
Sincerely, Jon Facemire Senior Project Manager c:
Mr. Michael Orenak, NRR/DANU/UAL1, NRC Mr. Michael Waters, NSIR/DPR, NRC Mr. Eric Schrader, NSIR/DPR/POB, NRC NRC Control Desk : NEI White Paper, Selection of a Seismic Scenario for an EPZ Boundary Determination : Comparison of Selection of a Seismic Scenario for an EPZ Boundary Determination with the May 2024 submittal