Federal Register #NRC-2025-1503

NRC Rulemaking: Leveraging Prior DOE or Department of War Reactor Authorizations in Commercial Licensing

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing a regulatory change to streamline commercial reactor licensing: - Government Buyer: - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Washington, DC - Scope of Rulemaking: - Allows applicants for commercial reactor facilities to reference prior authorizations of demonstration reactors by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or Department of War in NRC licensing reviews - Aims to improve efficiency in NRC licensing by leveraging previous federal authorizations - Requirements for Applicants: - Must demonstrate how prior DOE or Department of War authorizations satisfy NRC safety regulations - Must address any changes to reactor design, functionality, hazards, siting, or safety assumptions since the prior authorization - Focus: - Civilian nuclear energy technologies - Streamlining review for designs previously tested and authorized by DOE or Department of War - Public Participation: - NRC is inviting public comments and will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed regulatory changes - No specific OEMs, vendors, or commercial products are mentioned; the rulemaking is regulatory in nature

Description

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to revise its regulations to allow reactor applicants to leverage prior authorizations of demonstration reactors by the U.S. Department of Energy or Department of War in NRC licensing reviews for commercial reactor applications referencing those designs. This rulemaking aims to improve NRC licensing review efficiency by establishing an additional regulatory pathway for demonstrating reactor safety functions. Applicants referencing prior DOE or Department of War authorizations must show how those authorizations satisfy NRC regulations and address any design changes or site-specific factors. The proposal invites public comments and includes a public meeting to discuss these regulatory changes.

View original listing