ML24141A155

NRC Slides Micro-Reactor Licensing May 23 2024 Advanced Reactor Stakeholder Meeting

ML24141A155
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Issue date:	05/20/2024
From:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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Download: ML24141A155 (1)

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Nth-of -a -Kind Licensing Considerations for Micro-Reactors Mission: L icenses and regulate the Nation's civilian use of radioactive materials to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety and to promote the common defense and security and to protect the environment.

Enabling safe and timely decisions for advanced reactors.

• Execute safety-focused regulatory actions

• Optimize regulatory framework

• Advance technology readiness

• Maximize benefits of standardization

• Enable efficient stakeholder engagement

2 INNOVATION What is NeXT Licensing?

An approach by which a robust up-front approval of a common design enables efficient, predictable licensing of nth-of-a-kind reactors

• Standard design approved in a manufacturing license, design certification, construction permit and operating license, or combined operating license Up-Front Approval of

• Technical issues resolved the Common Plant

• Standardized operational programs (as appropriate)

• Generic environmental review (as appropriate)

• Hearing covering the common design

• Address administrative processes

• Confirmation of site suitability for design Nth-of-a-Kind

• Closure of ITAAC/license conditions Licensing

• Confirmatory site-specific inspection

• Hearings on site-specific issues

• Operating decision

3 The NRC staff is proactively enhancing clarity, reliability, and efficiency for licensing and regulation of micro-reactors

Clear Reliable Efficient Coherent, logical, and Prompt, fair, and Risk-informed and practical regulatory decisive regulation performance-based approaches that will that lends stability to regulation that delivers allow for safe and licensing and timely results and uses secure deployment deployment resources effectively

4 TRANSFORMATION Risk-informed licensing Consequence oriented approaches Regulatory Advanced Reactor Generic Environmental Modernization I mp a c t S tatement Fees, ARCOP, Policy Issues, Guidance (ARCAP)

Emergency Preparedness rule

Pre -application Staged licensing Core teams Licensing Efficiencies International engagement Direct communication (audits)

Focused ACRS interactions Streamlined documentation Optimized environmental reviews 5

ACTIONS

The NRC staff is taking actions to prioritize and address licensing and deployment considerations related to micro-reactors.

• SECY-24-0008: Micro -Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations: Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory (ML23207A252)

• Micro -reactors Licensing Strategies White Paper (ML21235A418)

• SECY-20-0093: Policy and Licensing Considerations Related to Micro -

Reactors ( ML20254A363)

6 ACTIONS SECY-24-0008

SECY 0008, Micro-Reactor Licensing and Deployment Considerations: Fuel Loading and Operational Testing at a Factory, seeks Commission policy direction on regulatory approaches related to three topics:

(1) Features to preclude criticality (2) Fuel loading at a factory (3) Operational testing at a factory

7 ACTIONS Catalyzing Micro-Reactors o Loading Fuel and Operational Testing o Transportation of fueled reactors o Standardization of operational programs (as appropriate) o Environmental review o Site characterization o Timeframe for authorization to operate at the deployment site o Physical and Cyber Security o Emergency Preparedness o Decommissioning process and decommissioning funding assurance o Staffing, training, qualification requirements o Commercial mobile micro-reactors o Licensing replacement reactors o Autonomous operation and remote operation o Storage of fuel after irradiation in a power reactor o Siting in densely populated areas o Aircraft impact assessment o Commercial maritime and space applications 8 WHATS NEXT?

Topics of interest:

• Maximal design s tandardization

• Standardization of operation programs (as appropriate)

• S ite characterization

• Streamlined licensing process and safety review

• Environmental review

• Construction inspection

Continued stakeholder engagement

9 Success Strategies

Optimizing Licensing Proactive Stakeholder Robust Preapplication Review s Engagement Activities

10 Thank you.

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