Regulatory Update

Commission Accelerates Rulemaking for Advanced Reactors

October 2, 2020

Consistent with Section 103 of NEIMA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has begun efforts to develop a new regulation, through rulemaking, in establishing a “Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors” for optional use by applicants for new commercial advanced nuclear reactor licenses. The staff presented its proposed plan for this rulemaking to the Commission in SECY-20-0032 dated April 13, 2020.

On October 2, 2020, the Commission approved the staff’s proposed approach in the SRM to SECY-20-0032 and directed the staff to accelerate its efforts to publish the final rule by October 2024, a significant acceleration from the originally targeted December, 2027 required by NEIMA.

To achieve the goals and objectives stated in the rulemaking plan, the NRC staff plans to release preliminary draft rule content as its developed and has commenced a series of public meetings to receive stakeholder inputs.