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No: 15-012 March 4, 2015

CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

NRC To Begin Full Certification Review of APR1400 Reactor

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has docketed for review Korea Electric Power Corp. and

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Powers application to certify the APR1400 reactor design for use in the

United States.

The companies submitted their revised application for the design, an approximately 1,400 MWe

pressurized-water reactor based on the Korean Optimized Power Reactor 1000, on Dec. 23, 2014. The

NRC, after conducting an acceptance check, has concluded the application is complete enough for a full

design certification review. The staff will provide a review schedule in the near future.

The NRCs certification process determines whether a reactor design meets the basic U.S. safety

requirements. Companies can then reference a certified design in applying for a Combined License to

build and operate a reactor in the United States. The NRCs Advisory Committee on Reactor

Safeguards provides input on design certification reviews. If issued, certifications are valid for 15 years.

The NRC has most recently certified Westinghouses AP1000 and GE-Hitachis Economic Simplified

Boiling Water Reactor designs.

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