Earlier, the license review framework for SMRs was initiated and advanced by commissioner George Apostolakis and chairman Gregory Jaczko,
Commissioners Kristine Svinicki, William Magwood and William Ostendorff concurred in the proposal that directs the NRC staff to produce a plan within six months on how to more fully integrate the use of risk insights into pre-application activities and the potential review of small modular reactor applications.
“There is considerable interest in SMRs. The power level of these reactors would be significantly lower than that of existing reactors,” said Apostolakis.
“Risk insights from PRAs could help focus resources on the most risk-significant aspects of a SMR design and enhance the safety focus of review guidance in the near term.”
The NRC is currently reviewing thirteen COLs for larger pressurized and boiling water reactors.
Reactor vendors are now working on several designs, including for pressurized water reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors.
The Department of Energy’s advanced reactor program is placing increased emphasis on molten salt reactors.
Domestic utilities are discussing plans to install SMRs, and the Department of Defense is studying the feasibility of using SMRs to power critical military installations.
