Through GAIN, U.S. Department of Energy — in close coordination with Nuclear Regulatory Commission — provides nuclear technology developers with regulatory framework development and licensing support. This support and its outcomes take a variety of forms and continue to evolve as technologies mature.
A few high-impact actions that have recently been completed, or are nearing completion, are listed below. If you’d like more information, contact Scott Ferrara, Regulatory Affairs Interface, at scott.ferrara@inl.gov or 208-390-5697.
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Regulatory Update: NRC Issues Construction Permit for Kairos Hermes Test Reactor in Tennessee
December 14, 2023 – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a construction permit to Kairos Power LLC for the company’s Hermes non-power test reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The permit authorizes Kairos to build a 35-megawatt thermal reactor that would use molten salt to cool the reactor core. Kairos submitted its application to build the…
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Regulatory Update: NRC Accepts Construction Permit Application for Kairos Hermes 2 Project for Test Reactors in Tennessee
September 11, 2023 – The NRC formally accepted a construction permit application submitted by Kairos Power LLC for its Hermes 2 project. The project consists of two low-power test reactors to support development of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology.
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Regulatory Update: NEI Updates Regulatory Priorities for New and Advanced Reactors
June 7, 2022 – NEI submitted a letter to NRC providing an update to industry’s regulatory priorities that are intended to lead to a more modern and efficient regulatory framework for new and advanced reactors.
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Regulatory Update: NRC Releases Updated Draft Part 53, Rule Text for Advanced Reactors
June 16, 2022 – The development of the Part 53 rule is directed by Congress through 2018’s Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) and forms one important part of the overall regulatory framework for advanced reactors.
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Regulatory Update: NRC Denies Oklo Combined License Application
January 6, 2022 – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has denied, without prejudice, Oklo Power, LLC.’s application to build and operate the company’s Aurora compact fast reactor in Idaho. Oklo submitted the application on March 11, 2020, and the NRC then indicated its plan to complete its review of the Aurora design in a two-step process.